Cysteine proteinase forms in sprouting potato tuber

Transformation of plants with exogenous proteinase inhibitor genes represents an attractive strategy for the biological control of insect pests. However, such a strategy necessitates a thorough characterization of endogenous proteinases. which represent potential target enzymes for the exogenous inhibitors produced. In the present study. changes in general endoproteolytic activity were monitored during sprouting of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Kennebec) tuber. Quantitative data obtained using standard procedures showed that an increase in cysteine proteinase (EC 3.4.22) activity occurs during sprouting. This increased activity results from the gradual appearance of new cysteine proteinase forms, as demonstrated by the use of class-specific proteinase activity gels. While only one cysteine proteinase form was present during early sprouting, at least six new active forms of the same class were shown to appear gradually after the mature tuber was sown, suggesting the involvement of a complex cysteine proteolytic system in the last stages of tuber protein breakdown. Interestingly, oryzacystatins I and II. two cysteine proleinase inhibitors potentially useful for insect control, had no effect on any tuber proteinase delected. Similar results were obtained with leaf, stem and stolon proteinases. This apparent absence of direct interference supports the potential of oryzacystatin genes for production of insect-tolerant transgenie potato plants.     

The regulation of respiration and growth of potato tuber callus by endogenous ethylene. Suppression of ethylene action by 2,5-norbornadiene

The growth (fresh and dry weight increase) of potato tuber ( Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Bintje) callus discs was stimulated by incubation in air with 500 ppm 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD, a competitive inhibitor of ethylene action) and inhibited by incubation in air with 4 000 ppm NBD. Ethylene formation by the callus was stimulated by NBD. The development of the alternative pathway, measured in isolated mitochondria was inhibited by NBD in a concentration-dependent way. The alternative pathway capacity, measured in vivo, was inhibited by 4 000 ppm NBD, but not by 500 ppm. Uninhibited in vivo respiration, which consists of cytochrome path activity and alternative path activity, was stimulated by the treatment with 500 ppm NBD. The main contribution to this stimulation was made by the cytochrome pathway. In 4 000 ppm NBD-treated callus, uninhibited respiration seemed to be unaffected as a consequence of an inhibited cytochrome path activity, which was compensated by a stimulated alternative path activity. Both in 500 and 4 OIK) ppm NBD-treated callus the alternative path activity in vivo was stimulated.
The regulatory role for endogenous ethylene in potato tuber callus is discussed in relation to: 1) The induction of respiratory pathways, 2) the supply of reduction equivalents in vivo and 3) growth.     

Aspects of tuber resistance in hybrid potatoes to potato tuber worm

Tubers produced from crosses between the wild potato, Solanum berthaultii Hawkes (Solanaceae), and the cultivated species Solanum tuberosum L. (Solanaceae) are resistant to potato tuber worm (PTW), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), infestation compared to those of the popular commercial North American cultivars Allegany, Atlantic, Chieftain, Katahdin, MaineChip, NorDonna, Norwis, Russet Norkotah, Snowden, and Yukon Gold. Given a choice between Atlantic and hybrid tubers, female PTW deposited ca. 50% fewer eggs on hybrid tubers than on those of Atlantic; larval survival and production of prepupae on hybrid tubers were reduced similarly. Time needed for neonates to penetrate eye buds was ca. 100 min greater on hybrid tubers compared to that on cv. Atlantic. Periderm of hybrid tubers is thicker than that of cv. Atlantic and may contribute to the delay in larval penetration of tubers and the success of initial establishment.     

Temporal dynamics of tuber formation and related processes in a crossing population of potato (Solanum tuberosum)

The chronological relationships between stolon formation, stolon tip swelling, tuber initiation, flowering, senescence, growth and resorption of tubers were studied under field conditions in a diploid population of potato with 238 genotypes, the parental clones and seven tetraploid cultivars. Timing of tuber initiation was not closely related to the timing of stolon formation, flowering and duration of the plant cycle. Tuber initiation very often preceded stolon branching. The number and size distribution of tubers were largely influenced by the degree of stolon branching, the length of the stolon swelling period and tuber resorption. The peak production of stolons and swollen stolon tips largely took place within the flowering period, although in most genotypes, some stolon tip swelling took place until the end of the plant cycle. More information on the general temporal relationships between events related to tuber formation and plant development will contribute to a better understanding of the physiological and genetic basis of the processes leading to the production of harvestable tubers.     

Effect of a granulovirus on mortality and dispersal of potato tuber worm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in refrigerated storage warehouse conditions

Potato tuber worm (PTW), Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is a world-wide pest of potato. In rustic stores, PTW larvae can infest 100% of stored tubers. Treatment of tubers in rustic stores with the PTW granulovirus (PoGV) has been demonstrated to protect stored tubers. This is the first study to show the effects of PoGV for protection of tubers stored in refrigerated warehouse conditions. Tubers were treated by dipping in aqueous suspensions of PoGV or water. An estimated 0.0819 larval equivalents of virus or 1.88×10⁹ viral occlusion bodies were deposited on each kilogram of tubers. They were held at 16°C for 11 days before lowering the temperature by 0.5°C per day until 10°C was reached. The tubers were stored at this temperature for 53 days. Mean numbers of infested tubers at the end of the assay was affected by both pre-infestation rate and virus treatment. Mean numbers of infested tubers in the control treatment was 3 tubers per chamber higher than in the virus treatment providing strong evidence that PoGV controlled larvae and minimized spread into un-infested tubers. Of the larvae that were retrieved in virus-treated infested tubers, the mean mortality was 87% compared to 37% in controls.     

An integrated view of the hormonal regulation of tuber formation in potato (Solanum tuberosum)

The hormonal regulation of the consecutive steps in the formation of tubers on the potato plant ( Solanum tuberosum L.) is described and discussed. An integrated view of the complex regulation of the initiation and growth of stolons and tubers is presented, with special emphasis on the commonly observed lack of synchronization of the various steps in tuber formation within a plant.     

用于测定抗氰呼吸途径活性的氧同位素分馏法和氧肟酸抑制法的比较

氧同位素分馏法和氧肟酸抑制法的测定结果都表明,马铃薯切片在１２ ～２４ ｈ 陈化期间抗氰呼吸途径的实际活性基本保持恒定,尽管前者的测定结果是后者的２ 倍。此外,用上述２ 种不同方法进行研究的结果都表明,内源乙烯在诱导陈化切片抗氰呼吸途径容量产生的同时并不调控其实际运行。上述结果表明尽管氧肟酸抑制法不能准确测定抗氰呼吸途径的实际活性,但用于一些比较研究仍是可行的     

Characterization of the early events of potato tuber development

The early events of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Superior) tuberization were examined by using a model system of axillary bud tuber development from petiole-leaf single-node cuttings. Both fresh weight and starch accumulation were monitored to establish a developmental framework for morphological changes. Fresh weight and starch content began to increase in axillary buds after 2 days. Visible changes in bud morphology could be detected 4 days after the start of incubation. Substantial increases in both total protein and total RNA were observed at the onset of tuber morphology. Immunoblot analysis showed that the major tuber protein, patatin, could be initially detected in day 4 buds and that a 22-kDa proteinase inhibitor could be initially detected at day 8. Northern blot analysis corroborated this pattern of accumulation at the RNA level for both protein types. Substantial accumulation of the two proteinase inhibitor mRNAs occurred later than patatin mRNA accumulation. The results of this study showed that there is considerable accumulation of both protein and mRNA occurring during the early stages of tuber development prior to the substantial accumulation of the major tuber storage proteins.     

Use of a stress inducible promoter to drive ectopic AtCBF expression improves potato freezing tolerance while minimizing negative effects on tuber yield

Solanum tuberosum is a frost-sensitive species incapable of cold acclimation. A brief exposure to frost can significantly reduce its yields, while hard frosts can completely destroy entire crops. Thus, gains in freezing tolerance of even a few degrees would be of considerable benefit relative to frost damage. The S . tuberosum cv. Umatilla was transformed with three Arabidopsis CBF genes ( AtCBF1-3 ) driven by either a constitutive CaMV35S or a stress-inducible Arabidopsis rd29A promoter. AtCBF1 and AtCBF3 over-expression via the 35S promoter increased freezing tolerance about 2 °C, whereas AtCBF2 over-expression failed to increase freezing tolerance. Transgenic plants of AtCBF1 and AtCBF3 driven by the rd29A promoter reached the same level of freezing tolerance as the 35S versions within a few hours of exposure to low but non-freezing temperatures. Constitutive expression of AtCBF genes was associated with negative phenotypes, including smaller leaves, stunted plants, delayed flowering, and reduction or lack of tuber production. While imparting the same degree of freezing tolerance, control of AtCBF expression via the stress-inducible promoter ameliorated these negative phenotypic effects and restored tuber production to levels similar to wild-type plants. These results suggest that use of a stress-inducible promoter to direct CBF transgene expression can yield significant gains in freezing tolerance without negatively impacting agronomically important traits in potato.     

Effect of ageing on sterol metabolism in potato tuber slices

When fresh potato tuber slices were incubated with [1-¹⁴C]-sodium acetate, cycloartenol was heavily labelled but no radioactivity was recovered in 24-methylene cycloartanol and free sterols. If potato slices were aged for 0–24 hr before feeding with radioactive acetate, a rapid increase of the label in the sterol precursors and the free sterols was observed. The free sterol content was 5 × higher after ageing for 24 hr. Isofucosterol synthesis was especially stimulated. The synthesis of sterols during the ageing process seems to be related to the appearance of a cycloartenol C24-methylase and may be linked to a biogenesis of membranes.Nomenclature: (1) 4,4,14α-trimethyl 9β, 19β-cyclo-5α-cholest-24-en 3β-ol; (2) 4,4,14α-trimethyl 9β, 19β-cyclo-5α-ergost-24(28)-en 3β-ol; (3) 4α,14α-dimethyl 9β,19β-cyclo 5α-ergost 24(28)-en 3β-ol; (4) 4α, 14α-dimethyl 5α-ergosta 8.24(28)-dien 3β-ol; (5) 4α-methyl 5α-ergosta 7,24(28)-dien 3β-ol; (6) ergosta 5,24(28)-dien 3β-ol; (7) stigmasta 5,Z-24(28)-dien 3β-ol; (8) (24R)-24 methyl cholest 5-en 3β-ol; (9) (24R)-24 ethyl cholest 5-en 3β-ol; (10) (24S)-24 ethyl cholesta 5,E-22(23)-dien 3β-ol; (11) cholest 5-en 3β-ol.     

Immunolocalization of extensin and potato tuber lectin in carrot, tomato and potato

Tissue-specific expression of two members of the cell wall hydroxyproline-rich glycoprotein (HRGP) family, extensin and potato tuber lectin, was examined by immunolocalization at the light microscope level in various organs (leaves, stems, roots, fruit, tuber) of carrot ( Daucus carota cv. Thumbelina), tomato ( Lycopersicon esclentum cv. Pixie Hybrid II), and potato ( Solanum tuberosum cv. Kennebec). Extensin was prominently expressed in vascular tissue, particularly xylem and also phloem, although virtually all cells displayed some degree of staining which varied as a function of the tissue, organ, and plant under study. Antibodies against potato tuber lectin (PTL) displayed a localization pattern similar to that observed for extensin; notably PTL did not stain cambium but did stain epithelial cells lining secretory cavities. These distribution patterns are consistent with a role for extensin, and possibly PTL, in providing mechanical support in tissues subjected to compression or torsional stress imparted by vascular growth, or by similar stress brought about by transport of vascular fluids.     

Adenine nucleotide contents in callus-forming potato tuber discs with different respiratory characteristics

ATP content (per g fresh weight) and energy charge were higher during incubation at 8°C than at 28°C in the early stages of callus induction of potato tuber discs ( Solanum luberosum L. cv. Bintje). After a transfer from 28°C to 8°C, ATP content increased while a sharp decline in ATP content was observed after a transfer from 8°C to 28°C. ADP and AMP pools did not increase correspondingly. When the callus discs had entered the logarithmic growth phase, the energy charge was maintained within relatively narrow limits (0.77–0.80) at all culture temperatures.     

内源乙烯对陈化马铃薯切片交替氧化酶表达的诱导作用

抗氰呼吸是植物线粒体区别于动物线粒体的主要功能特征之一,其本质是一条以交替氧化酶（ａｌｔｅｒｎａｔｉｖｅｏｘｉｄａｓｅ,ＡＯＸ）为末端氧化酶,被称为“交替途径”的呼吸电子传递链（ＭｃＩｎｔｏｓｈ１９９４）。该呼吸途径经常发生于产热植物开花、果实成熟、切片陈化、低温胁迫、机械损伤以及病原体侵染等一些较特殊的环境条件或生理过程中,并受乙烯等一些效应剂的诱导（Ｓｏｌｏｍｏｓ和Ｌａｔｉｅｓ１９７６,Ｄａｙ等１９７８,Ｇｕｄｅ和ｖａｎｄｅｒＰｌａｓ１９８５,Ｍａｒｉｓｓｅｎ等１９８６,Ｙｉｐ和Ｈｅｗ１９８…     

Change in phosphorylase isoenzymes during dedifferentiation of potato tuber cells

The phosphorylase isoenzyme composition of soluble preparations isolated from potato ( Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Spunta) tuber-derived callus has been studied by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and affinity electrophoresis. Native electrophoretic profiles indicate that dedifferentiated callus tissue contains a single form of phosphorylase that differs in primer requirement, charge and affinity towards branched α-1,4/1,6-glucans from the major phosphorylase form (phosphorylase II) in potato tuber. This latter molecular form is missing in dedifferentiated callus. However, callus phosphorylase appears to be closely related to tuber phosphorylase I, a minor form found in the original explant tissue.     

Fatty acid synthesis in aged potato slices

Synthesis of fatty acids has been studied in aged potato slices. Formation of the very long chain fatty acids was inhibited by the presence of fluoride or by high incubation temperatures. Arsenite caused an increase in the percentage incorporation of radioactivity from acetate-[¹⁴C] into palmitic acid, apparently by inhibiting further elongation. The results indicate that the aged potato contains at least three enzymes responsible for saturated fatty acid synthesis, At short incubation times, the newly formed fatty acids were mainly unesterified but later become incorporated into phospholipids. Phosphatidylcholine contained the greatest proportion of radioactive fatty acids. Newly formed polyenoic fatty acids were principally transacylated into phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamines. The very long chain fatty acids, on the other hand, were mainly located in the wax ester and unesterified fatty acid fractions, from which they can easily be converted into suberin components.     

Assessing potato tuber diel growth by means of X‐ray computed tomography

The formation and development of belowground organs is difficult to study. X‐ray computed tomography (CT) provides the possibility to analyse and interpret subtle volumetric changes of belowground organs such as tubers, storage roots and nodules. Here, we report on the establishment of a method based on a voxel dimension of 240 μm and precision (standard deviation) of 30 μL that allows interpreting growth differences among potato tubers happening within 3 h. Plants were not stressed by the application of X‐ray radiation, which was shown both by morphological comparison with control plants and by analysis of lipid peroxidation as a measure of oxidative stress. Diel (24 h) tuber growth fluctuations of three potato genotypes were monitored in soil‐filled pots of 10 L. In contrast to the results from previous reports, most tubers grew at similar rates during day and night. Tuber growth was not related to the developmental stage of plants and tubers. Pronounced differences were observed between average growth rates in different tubers within a plant. These results are discussed in the context of restrictions of past methods to study tuber growth and in the context of their potential for the characterization of the formation and development of other belowground plant organs.     

Characterization of potato genotypes by chlorophyll fluorescence during plant aging in a Mediterranean environment

Field experiments were conducted in Sicily (south Italy) during two seasons to characterize by chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence four genotypes (Spunta, Sieglinde, Daytona, and Ninfa) of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) for off-season production during plant aging and to analyse the possible relation between Chl parameters and tuber yield. Chl fluorescence parameters [initial fluorescence (F₀), maximum fluorescence (F_m), F_v/F_m, time in which maximal fluorescence occurs (T_max)] gained from Kautsky kinetics and Chl content were measured weekly, from 5^th to 6^th leaf appearance to beginning of plant senescence in the first season and to full plant senescence in the second season. F₀ and F_v/F_m were the most reliable Chl fluorescence parameters for the definition of genotypic differences while Chl content and T_max were the most reliable Chl parameters to predict plant aging. Tuber yield was highly correlated with Chl content, T_max, F₀, and F_m.     

H_2O_2和水杨酸对陈化马铃薯切片交替呼吸途径影响的比较(英文)

外源 5 .0mmol/LH2 O2 和 0 .1mmol/L水杨酸 (salicylicacid ,SA)处理均可明显提高陈化 2 4h的马铃薯切片的交替呼吸途径容量 (Valt)及其与总呼吸的比值 (Valt/Vt)。应用交替氧化酶的单克隆抗体进行Western杂交的结果表明 ,H2 O2 和SA处理均可明显提高陈化马铃薯切片中交替氧化酶的表达水平。用氧同位素分辨法研究 ,结果表明 :H2 O2 处理对陈化马铃薯切片中交替呼吸途径的实际运行没有影响 ,而SA处理对交替呼吸途径的实际运行具有明显的促进作用。上述结果表明 ,H2 O2 和SA对植物组织交替呼吸途径的影响存在差异 ,二者均可促进交替氧化酶的表达从而诱导交替呼吸途径容量的发生 ,但H2 O2 不影响其实际运行 ,而SA还可同时诱导其实际运行。     

Regulatory involvement of abscisic acid in potato tuber wound-healing

Rapid wound-healing is crucial in protecting potato tubers frominfection and dehydration. Wound-induced suberization and theaccumulation of hydrophobic barriers to reduce water vapourconductance/loss are principal protective wound-healing processes.However, little is known about the cognate mechanisms that effector regulate these processes. The objective of this researchwas to determine the involvement of abscisic acid (ABA) in theregulation of wound-induced suberization and tuber water vapourloss (dehydration). Analysis by liquid chromatography–massspectrometry showed that ABA concentrations varied little throughoutthe tuber, but were slightly higher near the periderm and lowestin the pith. ABA concentrations increase then decrease duringtuber storage. Tuber wounding induced changes in ABA content.ABA content in wound-healing tuber discs decreased after wounding,reached a minimum by 24 h, and then increased from the 3rd tothe 7th day after wounding. Wound-induced ABA accumulationswere reduced by fluridone (FLD); an inhibitor of de novo ABAbiosynthesis. Wound-induced phenylalanine ammonia lyase activitywas slightly reduced and the accumulation of suberin poly(phenolics)and poly(aliphatics) noticeably reduced in FLD-treated tissues.Addition of ABA to the FLD treatment restored phenylalanineammonia lyase activity and suberization, unequivocally indicatingthat endogenous ABA is involved in the regulation of these wound-healingprocesses. Similar experiments showed that endogenous ABA isinvolved in the regulation of water vapour loss, a process linkedto wax accumulation in wound-healing tubers. Rapid reductionof water vapour loss across the wound surface is essential inpreventing desiccation and death of cells at the wound site;live cells are required for suberization. These results unequivocallyshow that endogenous ABA is involved in the regulation of wound-inducedsuberization and the processes that protect surface cells fromwater vapour loss and death by dehydration. Key words: Abscisic acid, poly(aliphatic), poly(phenolic), potato, Solanum tuberosum L., suberin