Hypocotyl features of Myrtus communis (Myrtaceae): a many-sided strategy for possible enhancement of seedling establishment in the Mediterranean environment

Seed germination and seedling development were studied in Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae), an evergreen shrub widespread in Mediterranean woodlands, maquis and garrigues, to investigate the presence of morphological and anatomical adaptations that enhance successful seedling establishment under biotic and abiotic stresses. Seeds were germinated under controlled conditions and were observed daily to identify different post-germination stages of development. The anatomy of developing hypocotyls and emerging radicles was studied through light and epi-fluorescence microscopy using both cross and longitudinal sections. Tegument rupture was caused by hypocotyl elongation, which, when water availability in the substrate was limited, was accompanied by a dense ring of hairs in the lower region. Absorption tests showed that the hypocotyl hairs were functional in water uptake. They might also enhance the anchorage of the seedling to the substrate. Further investigations showed the early formation of a suberized layer of cells (exodermis) in the radicle and the occurrence of phenolics in the hypocotyl cells of cortical parenchyma. In conclusion, our results show that seedlings of M. communis have developed a strategy of establishment that: (a) regulates water uptake through hypocotyl hairs and the exodermis; (b) might allow mechanical support through hypocotyl hairs; and (c) accumulates phenolics that might defend the plant against animal predation.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 145 , 195–202.     

FORMULATING A NEW PASSION FRUIT JUICE BEVERAGE WITH DIFFERENT SWEETENER SYSTEMS

The aim of this work was to optimize the acceptability of a natural passion fruit beverage using different levels of passion fruit pulp and sucrose, and to determine the equi-sweet concentrations of aspartame, sucralose, and a blend of 80% aspartame  +  20% acesulfame-K for the optimized formula. A 2² central composite design was used to optimize the acceptability of the sucrose-sweetened beverage, which was accessed using a 9-point structured hedonic scale. Acceptability data were fitted to a second-order model equation provided in the design. The selected pulp content and sucrose concentration were, respectively, 2.5 ° Brix and 10%. Measurements of sweetness equivalence were accomplished using two types of sensory methods: magnitude estimation and difference-from-control tests. The concentrations of aspartame, sucralose and a blend of 80% aspartame  +  20% acesulfame-K found as equi-sweet to 10% sucrose in the studied passion fruit beverage were, respectively, 0.043, 0.016 and 0.026%.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This article deals with formulating a new passion fruit juice beverage with different sweetener systems. The research makes a very important contribution to the literature on sensory science used on product development by demonstrating the necessity to study the substitution of sucrose by high-intensity sweeteners every time a formulation is changed or a new product is developed.     

Multivalent nanobodies targeting death receptor 5 elicit superior tumor cell killing through efficient caspase induction

Multiple therapeutic agonists of death receptor 5 (DR5) have been developed and are under clinical evaluation. Although these agonists demonstrate significant anti-tumor activity in preclinical models, the clinical efficacy in human cancer patients has been notably disappointing. One possible explanation might be that the current classes of therapeutic molecules are not sufficiently potent to elicit significant response in patients, particularly for dimeric antibody agonists that require secondary cross-linking via Fcγ receptors expressed on immune cells to achieve optimal clustering of DR5. To overcome this limitation, a novel multivalent Nanobody approach was taken with the goal of generating a significantly more potent DR5 agonist. In the present study, we show that trivalent DR5 targeting Nanobodies mimic the activity of natural ligand, and furthermore, increasing the valency of domains to tetramer and pentamer markedly increased potency of cell killing on tumor cells, with pentamers being more potent than tetramers in vitro. Increased potency was attributed to faster kinetics of death-inducing signaling complex assembly and caspase-8 and caspase-3 activation. In vivo, multivalent Nanobody molecules elicited superior anti-tumor activity compared to a conventional DR5 agonist antibody, including the ability to induce tumor regression in an insensitive patient-derived primary pancreatic tumor model. Furthermore, complete responses to Nanobody treatment were obtained in up to 50% of patient-derived primary pancreatic and colon tumor models, suggesting that multivalent DR5 Nanobodies may represent a significant new therapeutic modality for targeting death receptor signaling.     

Burkholderia species are ancient symbionts of legumes

Burkholderia has only recently been recognized as a potential nitrogen-fixing symbiont of legumes, but we find that the origins of symbiosis in Burkholderia are much deeper than previously suspected. We sampled 143 symbionts from 47 native species of Mimosa across 1800 km in central Brazil and found that 98% were Burkholderia . Gene sequences defined seven distinct and divergent species complexes within the genus Burkholderia . The symbiosis-related genes formed deep Burkholderia -specific clades, each specific to a species complex, implying that these genes diverged over a long period within Burkholderia without substantial horizontal gene transfer between species complexes.     

Infrasectional systematics of the genus Sideritis L. section Sideritis (Lamiaceae)

RIVERA NUÑEZ, D., OBON DE CASTRO, C., TOMAS-LORENTE, F., FERRERES, F. & TOMAS-BARBERAN, F. A., 1990. Infrasectional systematics of the genus Sideritis L. section Sideritis (Lamiaceae). A new taxonomic division of the section Sideritis is proposed on the basis of morphological, cytological and chemical characters. The following subsections art-recognized: Grandiflora, Ovata, Camarae, Linearifolia, Gymnocarpae, Stachydioides, Lacaitae, Hirsuta, Chamaedryfolia, Arborescens, Flavovirens, Leucantha, Angustifolia, Serrata and Scordioides . Possible evolutionary pathways are discussed.     

长期不同施氮水平对草原植物群落结构的影响

为探讨施氮对贝加尔针茅草原植物群落结构的影响,该研究于内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原设置不同施氮水平0(N0)、15(N15)、30(N30)、50(N50)、100(N100)、150(N150)、200(N200)和300(N300)kg·hm-2·a-1,研究连续施氮9年后贝加尔针茅草原群落物种组成、重要值、多样性及生物量等指标对不同施氮水平的响应。结果表明:(1)长期施氮导致植物群落物种组成发生了明显的变化,在高浓度氮素添加量下群落物种数最低,但可显著提高优势种在群落中的重要值(P<0.05)。(2)长期施氮使贝加尔针茅草原植物多样性指数不同程度地降低,使优势度指数增加,其中N300添加水平效果最为明显(P<0.05)。(3)长期施氮使草原植被生产力(地上、地下生物量)整体呈先上升后下降的趋势,地上生物量在N100水平时出现峰值,地下生物量在N50水平时出现最大值(P<0.05),且根系分布具有明显的表聚特征(0~10 cm)。(4)RDA分析表明,寸草苔和狭叶柴胡地上生物量与土壤pH呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05);展枝唐松草和二裂委陵菜地上生物量与土壤有机质含量呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05)。研究认为,长期不同施氮水平均可改变贝加尔针茅草原群落物种组成,降低物种多样性,对植物群落结构有着明显的影响。     

The auxin response factor,OsARF19, controls rice leaf angles through positively regulating OsGH3‐5 and OsBRI1

Auxin and brassinosteroid (BR) are important phytohormones for controlling lamina inclination implicated in plant architecture and grain yield. But the molecular mechanism of auxin and BR crosstalk for regulating lamina inclination remains unknown. Auxin response factors (ARFs) control various aspects of plant growth and development. We here report that OsARF19‐overexpression rice lines show an enlarged lamina inclination due to increase of its adaxial cell division. OsARF19 is expressed in various organs including lamina joint and strongly induced by auxin and BR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and yeast one‐hybrid assays demonstrate that OsARF19 binds to the promoter of OsGH3‐5 and brassinosteroid insensitive 1 (OsBRI1) directing their expression. OsGH3‐5‐overexpression lines show a similar phenotype as OsARF19‐O1. Free auxin contents in the lamina joint of OsGH3‐5‐O1 or OsARF19‐O1 are reduced. OsGH3‐5 is localized at the endoplasmic retieulum (ER) matching reduction of the free auxin contents in OsGH3‐5‐O1. osarf19‐TDNA and osgh3‐5‐Tos17 mutants without erected leaves show a function redundancy with other members of their gene family. OsARF19‐overexpression lines are sensitive to exogenous BR treatment and alter the expressions of genes related to BR signalling. These findings provide novel insights into auxin and BR signalling, and might have significant implications for improving plant architecture of monocot crops.