Synergistic Effect of AlCl3 and Kinetin on Chlorophyll and Protein Contents and Photochemical Activities in Detached Wheat Primary Leaves during Dark Incubation

Al³⁺ in combination with kinetin showed more protection against degradation of chlorophyll (Chl) and protein than Al³⁺ or kinetin alone during dark-induced senescence in wheat primary leaf segments. MV-dependent whole chain electron transport, photosystem (PS) 2 mediated oxygen evolution, and PS1 activities were also delayed to a greater extent. Absorbed excitation energy distribution was more in favour of PS1 in Al³⁺ plus kinetin-treated leaf thylakoids at 72 h.     

Cotyledon cells of Vigna mungo seedlings use at least two distinct autophagic machineries for degradation of starch granules and cellular components

alpha-Amylase is expressed in cotyledons of germinated Vigna mungo seeds and is responsible for the degradation of starch that is stored in the starch granule (SG). Immunocytochemical analysis of the cotyledon cells with anti-alpha-amylase antibody showed that alpha-amylase is transported to protein storage vacuole (PSV) and lytic vacuole (LV), which is converted from PSV by hydrolysis of storage proteins. To observe the insertion/degradation processes of SG into/in the inside of vacuoles, ultrastructural analyses of the cotyledon cells were conducted. The results revealed that SG is inserted into LV through autophagic function of LV and subsequently degraded by vacuolar alpha-amylase. The autophagy for SG was structurally similar to micropexophagy detected in yeast cells. In addition to the autophagic process for SG, autophagosome-mediated autophagy for cytoplasm and mitochondria was detected in the cotyledon cells. When the embryo axes were removed from seeds and the detached cotyledons were incubated, the autophagosome-mediated autophagy was observed, but the autophagic process for the degradation of SG was not detected, suggesting that these two autophagic processes were mediated by different cellular mechanisms. The two distinct autophagic processes were thought to be involved in the breakdown of SG and cell components in the cells of germinated cotyledon.     

The capacity of antioxidant protection during modulated ageing of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cotyledons. 2. The low-molecular weight antioxidants

The aim of the present work was to evaluate non-enzymic antioxidants during natural and artificially modulated senescence. Senescence of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Jantar) cotyledons was modulated by UV C irradiation or by the decapitation of plants apices. The content of beta-carotene and zeaxanthin decreased in control and decapitated plants but in UV C irradiated plants these contents increased. The degree of de-epoxidation increased in all cultivations with age. The content of total glutathione (sum of reduced and oxidized) sharply decreased in bean cotyledons grown in all conditions. Interestingly, the content of total ascorbate increased at the end of cotyledon life span of control and decapitated plants but decreased in UV plants. Decrease of reduced/oxidized ratio of ascorbate and glutathione during cotyledon ageing confirmed increasing oxidative stress during senescence in all cultivations.     

Protein carbonylation during natural leaf senescence in winter wheat,as probed by fluorescein‐5‐thiosemicarbazide

Leaf senescence is characterised by a massive degradation of proteins in order to recycle nitrogen to other parts of the plant, such as younger leaves or developing grain/seed. Protein degradation during leaf senescence is a highly regulated process and it is suggested that proteins to be degraded are marked by an oxidative modification (carbonylation) that makes them more susceptible to proteolysis. However, there is as yet no evidence of an increase in protein carbonylation level during natural leaf senescence. The aim of our study was thus to monitor protein carbonylation level during the process of natural senescence in the flag leaf of field‐grown winter wheat plants. For this purpose, we adapted a fluorescence‐based method using fluorescein‐5‐thiosemicarbazide (FTC) as a probe for detecting protein carbonyl derivatives. As used for the first time on plant material, this method allowed the detection of both quantitative and qualitative modifications in protein carbonyl levels during the last stages of wheat flag leaf development. The method described herein represents a convenient, sensitive and reproducible alternative to the commonly used 2,4‐dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH)‐based method. In addition, our analysis revealed changes in protein carbonylation level during leaf development that were associated with qualitative changes in protein abundance and carbonylation profiles. In the senescing flag leaf, protein carbonylation increased concomitantly with a stimulation of endoproteolytic activity and a decrease in protein content, which supports the suggested relationship between protein oxidation and proteolysis during natural leaf senescence.     

豆大蓟马对寄主植物及挥发性化合物的趋性

为明确不同寄主和不同信息化合物对豆大蓟马的行为影响,本文应用"Y"型嗅觉仪测定了豆大蓟马雌成虫对两种寄主植物花和不同浓度(v/v)下11种化合物的趋向性反应,结果表明:豆大蓟马对豇豆花、10-4烟酸乙酯、10-6烟酸乙酯、10-2橙花醇、10-2芳樟醇、10-6邻茴香醛和10-23-苯丙醛、10-43-苯丙醛具有极显著的趋向反应;对四季豆花和10-4橙花醇具有显著的趋向反应;10-4β-香茅醇、10-6β-香茅醇和10-6苯甲醛对豆大蓟马具有显著的驱避反应。不同浓度同一化合物对豆大蓟马的吸引作用也存在显著差异。实验结果可为进一步开发利用信息化合物田间防治豆大蓟马提供参考。     

大豆下胚轴线粒体的衰老与膜脂的过氧化作用

离体的大豆下胚轴线粒体,在人工衰老条件下,产生了结构膨胀和细胞色素氧化酶活性的下降。衰老的线粒体也发生膜脂的过氧化作用——丙二醛、脂质的氢过氧化物和荧光脂褐色素明显增加。而且,线粒体衰老时产生的膜脂过氧化产物雨二醛,可能是膜脂的磷脂酰胆碱和磷脂酰乙醇胺中的亚麻酸发生过氧化反应的结果。     

Behavioral adaptations of two phytophagous insects feeding on two species of phototoxic Asteraceae

Two phototoxic plants of the Asteraceae family were studied in relation to species of phytophagous insects for which they are hosts:Argyrotaenia velutinana Wlk. feeding onChrysanthemum leucanthemum L. andChlorochlamys chloroleucaria (Guenée) colonizingRudbeckia hirta L. The toxicity of these two plants is related to the presence of acetylenes and thiophenes that induce a light-mediated production of deleterious singlet oxygen and other free radicals (phototoxicity). Results showed that females ofA. velutinana laid their eggs preferentially in the shade and the larvae adopted hiding behaviors, such as bending of ligulate corollas and silk spinning to build opaque shelters. By avoiding direct exposure to the sun, both behaviors may reduce phototoxicity associated with ingested plant materials. Furthermore, larvae ofC. chloroleucaria demonstrated a preference in the field for pollen, which constitutes a nonphototoxic tissue of their host plant. Experimental alterations of these specific behaviors induced important biological consequences for larvae of both insects such as mortality or reduction of larval growth rate. These results reinforce the idea that behavior may constitute an efficient adaptation to avoid phototoxicity.     

杂交稻及其三系叶片衰老过程中SOD、CAT活性和MDA含量的变化

对杂交水稻及其三系主茎第11叶叶片自然衰老过程中超氧物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和丙二醛(MDA)含量的变化进行了研究,结果表明:叶片衰老过程中,SOD和CAT活性下降,MDA的含量增加,可作为衰老特征的叶绿素和可溶性蛋白质含量明显下降;SOD的活性和MDA的含量变化相对应;CAT活性大幅度下降与SOD之间的不平衡,致使O_2~-代谢中间产物累积而引起膜的损伤。不育系的衰老进程比杂交水稻、恢复系和保持系慢,其SOD和CAT活性明显高于其它三者,可能是不育系不易早衰的原因之一。