Effects of Salicylate on Systemic Invasion of Tobacco Plants by Various Viruses

Salicylate watered onto soil in which White Burley tobacco plants were grown represents a reversible stress characterized by stomatal closure, slight slackening of plant growth and low chlorophyll loss. Salicylate affected viral pathogenesis in opposite ways. It had no effect against local and systemic infections by potato virus X (PVX), potato virus Y⁰ (PVY⁰) or tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), whereas it completely prevented systemic infection by alfalfa mosaic virus (AIMV) or tobacco, rattle virus (TRV) in a high proportion of treated plants. When infection moved from leaves inoculated with AIMV or TRV, the tendency to limit systemic spread was shown by the restriction of systemic infection to very limited areas erratically distributed in some uninoculated leaves. The salicylate-induced restriction of AIMV or TRV infectivity to inoculated leaves did not appear due to inhibition of virus multiplication because the inoculation of potentially resistant leaves of salicylate-reated plants resulted in virus antigen accumulation comparable to that of untreated controls. Salicylate may therefore inhibit some long distance virus transport function. Salicylate appears able to evoke true hypersensitivity only against systemic viruses able to induce local necrotic lesions, probably by activating some genetic information for resistance that is normally not expressed.     

Endogenous Methyl Salicylate in Pathogen-Inoculated Tobacco Plants

The tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cultivar Xanthi-nc (genotype NN) produces high levels of salicylic acid (SA) after inoculation with the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Gaseous methyl salicylate (MeSA), a major volatile produced in TMV-inoculated tobacco plants, was recently shown to be an airborne defense signal. Using an assay developed to measure the MeSA present in tissue, we have shown that in TMV-inoculated tobacco plants the level of MeSA increases dramatically, paralleling increases in SA. MeSA accumulation was also observed in upper, noninoculated leaves. In TMV-inoculated tobacco shifted from 32 to 24°C, the MeSA concentration increased from nondetectable levels to 2318 ng/g fresh weight 12 h after the temperature shift, but subsequently decreased with the onset of the hypersensitive response. Similar results were observed in plants inoculated with Pseudomonas syringae pathovar phaseolicola, in which MeSA levels were highest just before the hypersensitive response-induced tissue desiccation. Transgenic NahG plants unable to accumulate SA also did not accumulate MeSA after TMV inoculation, and did not show increased resistance to TMV following MeSA treatment. Based on the spatial and temporal kinetics of its accumulation, we conclude that tissue MeSA may play a role similar to that of volatile MeSA in the pathogen-induced defense response.     

Transport of Salicylic Acid in Tobacco Necrosis Virus-Infected Cucumber Plants

The transport of salicylic acid (SA) was studied in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) using 14C-labeled benzoic acid that was injected in the cotyledons at the time of inoculation. Primary inoculation with tobacco necrosis virus (TNV) on the cotyledons led to an induction of systemic resistance of the first primary leaf above the cotyledon against Colletotrichum lagenarium as early as 3 d after inoculation. [14C]SA was detected in the phloem or in the first leaf 2 d after TNV inoculation, whereas [14C]benzoic acid was not detected in the phloem during the first 3 d after TNV inoculation of the cotyledons, indicating phloem transport of [14C]SA from cotyledon. In leaf 1, the specific activity of [14C]SA decreased between 1.7 and 8.6 times compared with the cotyledons, indicating that, in addition to transport, leaf 1 also produced more SA. The amount of SA transported after TNV infection of the cotyledon was 9 to 160 times higher than in uninfected control plants. Thus, SA can be transported to leaf 1 before the development of systemic acquired resistance, and SA accumulation in leaf 1 results both from transport from the cotyledon and from synthesis in leaf 1.     

Feeding of Whitefly on Tobacco Decreases Aphid Performance via Increased Salicylate Signaling

Background

The feeding of Bemisia tabaci nymphs trigger the SA pathway in some plant species. A previous study showed that B. tabaci nymphs induced defense against aphids (Myzus persicae) in tobacco. However, the mechanism underlying this defense response is not well understood.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here, the effect of activating the SA signaling pathway in tobacco plants through B. tabaci nymph infestation on subsequent M. persicae colonization is investigated. Performance assays showed that B. tabaci nymphs pre-infestation significantly reduced M. persicae survival and fecundity systemically in wild-type (WT) but not salicylate-deficient (NahG) plants compared with respective control. However, pre-infestation had no obvious local effects on subsequent M. persicae in either WT or NahG tobacco. SA quantification results indicated that the highest accumulation of SA was induced by B. tabaci nymphs in WT plants after 15 days of infestation. These levels were 8.45- and 6.14-fold higher in the local and systemic leaves, respectively, than in controls. Meanwhile, no significant changes of SA levels were detected in NahG plants. Further, biochemical analysis of defense enzymes polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), β-1,3-glucanase, and chitinase demonstrated that B. tabaci nymph infestation increased these enzymes’ activity locally and systemically in WT plants, and there was more chitinase and β-1, 3-glucanase activity systemically than locally, which was opposite to the changing trends of PPO. However, B. tabaci nymph infestation caused no obvious increase in enzyme activity in any NahG plants except POD.

Conclusions/Significance

In conclusion, these results underscore the important role that induction of the SA signaling pathway by B. tabaci nymphs plays in defeating aphids. It also indicates that the activity of β-1, 3-glucanase and chitinase may be positively correlated with resistance to aphids.     

PTLF-PTAG-IR对转基因烟草开花的抑制效应

PTLF(LEAFY同源基因)和PTAG(AGAMOUS同源基因)是杨树中控制花发育的重要基因,为了解RNA干涉同时抑制PTLF和PTAG对花发育的影响,本研究采用根癌农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens)介导法将35S::PTLF-PTAG-IR导入烟草(Nicotiana tabacum)。经PCR检测获得了15株阳性转化株系,进一步的Southern分析证实PTLF-PTAG-IR基因已整合到烟草基因组中。荧光定量分析结果显示,转基因烟草内源NFL(LEAFY同源基因)和NAG1(AGAMOUS同源基因)的表达量均低于野生型。对开花时间调查的结果表明:与野生型烟草相比,53.3%的转基因株系开花受到完全的抑制,26.7%的转基因株系开花时间平均推迟34.3d,仅20%的转基因株系与野生型在同一时期开花。另外,对转基因烟草花器官的观察发现花瓣形态,雄蕊着生方式、数目等方面发生变异,这些研究结果表明过量表达35S::PTLF-PTAG-IR对烟草花发育起到抑制作用,本研究将为利用转基因手段获得不育材料提供参考。     

Studies on Nitrogen Metabolism in Tobacco Plants

Δ¹-Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase has been considerably purified from tobacco leaves. This enzyme uses NADPH or NADH for the formation of proline, although the former is better used. This enzyme was found in washed chloroplast extract as well as in cytoplasmic fluid and utilized NADPH, formed by the photosynthetic NADP reduction, for the sythesis of proline in the light.     

The Effects of Cadmium-Zinc Interactions on Biochemical Responses in Tobacco Seedlings and Adult Plants

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of cadmium-zinc (Cd-Zn) interactions on their uptake, oxidative damage of cell macromolecules (lipids, proteins, DNA) and activities of antioxidative enzymes in tobacco seedlings as well as roots and leaves of adult plants. Seedlings and plants were exposed to Cd (10 µM and 15 µM) and Zn (25 µM and 50 µM) as well as their combinations (10 µM or 15 µM Cd with either 25 µM or 50 µM Zn). Measurement of metal accumulation exhibited that Zn had mostly positive effect on Cd uptake in roots and seedlings, while Cd had antagonistic effect on Zn uptake in leaves and roots. According to examined oxidative stress parameters, in seedlings and roots individual Cd treatments induced oxidative damage, which was less prominent in combined treatments, indicating that the presence of Zn alleviates oxidative stress. However, DNA damage found in seedlings, and lower glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity recorded in both seedlings and roots, after individual Zn treatments, indicate that Zn accumulation could impose toxic effects. In leaves, oxidative stress was found after exposure to Cd either alone or in combination with Zn, thus implying that in this tissue Zn did not have alleviating effects. In conclusion, results obtained in different tobacco tissues suggest tissue-dependent Cd-Zn interactions, which resulted in activation of different mechanisms involved in the protection against metal stress.     

Uncoupling Auxin and Ethylene Effects in Transgenic Tobacco and Arabidopsis Plants

Overproduction of auxin in transgenic plants also results in the overproduction of ethylene. Plants overproducing both auxin and ethylene display inhibition of stem elongation and growth, increased apical dominance, and leaf epinasty. To determine the relative roles of auxin and ethylene in these processes, transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis plants expressing the auxin-overproducing tryptophan monooxygenase transgene were crossed to plants expressing an ethylene synthesis-inhibiting 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase transgene. Tobacco and Arabidopsis plants with elevated auxin and normal levels of ethylene were obtained by this strategy. Transgenic auxin-overproducing Arabidopsis plants were also crossed with the ethylene-insensitive ein1 and ein2 mutants. Analysis of these plants indicates that apical dominance and leaf epinasty are primarily controlled by auxin rather than ethylene. However, ethylene is partially responsible for the inhibition of stem elongation observed in auxin-overproducing tobacco. Finally, these data show that auxin overproduction can be effectively uncoupled from ethylene overproduction in transgenic plants to enable direct manipulation of plant morphology for agronomic and horticultural purposes.     

Chemical Studies on Brown-spot Disease of Tobacco Plants

Tenuazonic acid has been isolated as a halo-inducing toxin from the culture filtrate of Alternaria longipes, a fungus causative of the tobacco brown-spot disease. Further, its occurrence in leaves of diseased plants was confirmed by a spectrometric method. The role of the acid in the host-parasite interaction was elucidated from the phytopathological standpoint.     

The Effects of Oral Salicylate on Serum Uric Acid Levels

Thirteen males and six females were given 40 grains of oral salicylate daily for six days. The serum uric acid of 16 of the 19 subjects fell, the mean post-treatment level being 1.1 mg. % less than the control mean. In five males and five females, administration of 20 grains of oral salicylate daily for six days resulted in a uniform rise of serum uric acid, the post-treatment mean being 1.4 mg. % above the pretreatment mean. Salicylate therapy in common dosage may therefore falsely elevate or depress serum uric acid levels. An accurate evaluation of a serum uric acid level can be made only if the patient is not under the influence of salicylates.     

Studies on Nitrogen Metabolism in Tobacco Plants A

The effect of age on non-protein constituents of tobacco leaves (N. tabacum L., var. Bright Yellow) has been studied. For this purpose leaves in three different stalk positions, upper, middle and lower, which represent young, mature and over-mature leaves, respectively, were harvested in the day-time and at night.

The total amino nitrogen content both in the day-time and at night decreases from the upper leaf position downwards. As for the individual groups, the content of both upper and middle leaves increases in the day-time and that of the lower ones increases at night.

In general, the content of the individual amino acids is high in the upper leaves and low in the lower ones. Proline and γ-aminobutyric acid, as a ratio of the total amino acid content, show a marked difference with position, in other words with age of the leaves.

The levels of proline decrease very sharply from the upper leaf position downwards and that of γ-aminobutyric acid exhibits an opposite trend in both samples at night and in the day-time. These trends are very prominent in the case of the midribs.

The contents of other amino acids, regardless of position, show similar trends with time to those reported in the previous paper₁₎, and the aspartic acid content increases at night.     

Carbohydrate Metabolism and Translocation in Healthy and Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus-Infected Cocoa Plants

Analyses of cocoa swollen shoot virus-infected and healthy cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) plant tissues were made to determine the effect of virus infection on the metabolism and transport of carbohydrates in affected plants. Starch, sucrose and reducing sugars were found to accumulate in infected tissues. Translocation of photosynthates (mainly as sucrose) to the stem and root system, as estimated by the overnight loss of carbohydrates from the leaves and by ¹⁴CO₂ tracer experiments, was as efficient in the infected plants as in the healthy. Infected plants showed a higher diurnal turnover of carbohydrates in their leaves and, on unit leaf area basis, higher levels of ¹⁴C-labelled assimilates suggesting that they have a greater photosynthetic capacity than the healthy plants. The rate of respiration, as determined by the proportions of organic acids, amino acids and other intermediary metabolites formed from translocated ¹⁴C-labelled sugars, was generally higher in infected than in healthy plants. It is concluded from available data showing the presence in infected tissues of mineral nutrients, protein N and amino acids at the same concentrations as in healthy plants, and from the relatively high rates of photosynthesis and respiration that a high rate of metabolic activity is maintained in the host-virus system. Some factors possibly contributing to the stunted growth of infected plants are discussed in the light of these findings.     

超量表达IPT和KN1基因对转基因烟草生长发育的影响

为了比较异戊烯转移酶基因IPT和玉米homeobox基因KNI超量表达对植物生长发育的影响,将35S：：IPT和35S：：KNI分别导入烟草。观察发现,过量表达IPT和KNI基因对植株再生频率、形态、生长周期和顶端优势等方面的影响均相似,但在生根和开花结籽方面,35S：：IPT转基因植物所受影响更显著。细胞分裂素含量检测表明,35S：：IPT转基因植物叶片中细胞分裂素的含量高于35S：：KNI转基因植物。     

Ecophysiology of Virus-Infected Plants: A Case Study of Eupatorium makinoi Infected by Geminivirus

Abstract: Plant viruses are prevalent in wild plants. However, few studies have been conducted on virus infection in natural plant communities. This paper describes a series of our studies on the Eupatorium makinoi -geminivirus system in order to consider the role of plant viruses in natural plant communities. Eupatorium makinoi is a short-lived perennial, which is widely distributed in Japan. Variegated E. makinoi plants caused by geminivirus infection are prevalent in the field. After a virus epidemic in a local E. makinoi population, the number of plants declined and, consequently, the local population nearly became extinct. Inferior performances of virus-infected plants were attributed to impaired photosynthesis. Photosynthetic rates of virus-infected leaves were especially lowered under low irradiance. This decrease was caused by a loss of chlorophyll (Chl) proteins, particularly light-harvesting chlorophyll a / b binding proteins associated with photosystem II (LHCII). The preferential loss of LHCII was caused by a decrease in the activity of Chl synthesis. These studies demonstrate that geminiviruses play an important role in determining fitness of E. makinoi plants and clarify the physiological mechanism of the decrease in fitness of virus-infected E. makinoi . Lowered fitness of E. makinoi by the infection would underlie the population dynamics observed in the field. Thus, virus infection is one of the most important biotic factors that affect various ecological and evolutionary phenomena in natural ecosystems.     

Restoration of Photosynthesis in Pot-Bound Tobacco Plants

Premature senescence is observed in pot-bound tobacco plants(Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. xanthii) and this is shown to be accompaniedby gross accumulation of leaf starch and a marked decline inphotosynthesis, ribulose- 1, 5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylaseactivity, and soluble protein content. Starch content, uptakeof CO₂ by leaf discs, and the activity of RuBP carboxylase inwhole leaf extracts were measured daily following transfer ofrestricted plants to larger pots. Starch declined rapidly, whilstphotosynthetic activity was fully restored within a period ofseveral days, and frequently exceeded the maximum rates measuredin non-restricted plants. This overcompensation, which couldbe related to availability of carbohydrates accumulated as starch,is discussed in relation to the well-established horticulturalpractice of ‘potting on’.     

Isolation of Polyribosome from Tobacco Plants Infected with Tobacco Mosaic Virus

Polyribosomes have been isolated from tobacco leaves. Upon infection with TMV, a new polyribosome has appeared which is specific for infection, and TMV-antigenic protein is formed on this polyribosome. This new polyribosome has an S-value of 360–380. From these results, it is suggested that this TMV specific polyribosome is an aggregate of 60–80 ribosomes which is bound by TMV-RNA as messenger, and that TMV-RNA is translated polycistronically.