The Effect of 2,3,6-Trichlorophenylacetic and 2,2-Dichloropropionic Acids on Nitrite Oxidation

The effects of two herbicides, 2,3,6-trichlorophenylacetic acid, sodium salt, and 2,2-dichloropropionic acid, sodium salt, on nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were studied by the soil perfusion technique. The time of application of 2,3,6-trichlorophenylacetic acid affected its toxicity to the nitrifier. When it was present in the environment as the nitrifier started growth, it was more toxic than if the organisms were allowed to nitrify actively before they were subjected to the herbicide.

The herbicide 2,2-dichloropropionic acid at rates up to 700 ppm had little effect on nitrite oxidation. The toxicity of 2,3,6-trichlorophenylacetic acid for Nitrobacter was reduced by 2,2-dichloropropionic acid irrespective of whether the cells came into contact with the agents before or during active oxidation. The mode of action for this phenomenon has not been determined.

     

Interactive effects of salinity, nitrogen and sulphur on the organic solutes in Spartina alterniflora leaf blades

Glycinebetaine, proline, asparagine, sucrose, glucose, and dimethylsulphoniopropionate(DMSP) were the major organic solutes in Spartina alternifloraleaf blades. To investigate the physiological role(s) of thesesolutes, the effects of salinity, nitrogen, and sulphur treatmentson leaf blade solute levels were examined. Glycinebetaine wasthe major organic solute accumulated in leaf blades grown at500 mol m^–3 NaCl, although asparagine and proline alsoaccumulated when the supply of nitrogen was sufficient. Thesesolutes may play a role in osmotic adjustment. In contrast,DMSP levels either did not change or were reduced in responseto the 500 mol m^–3 NaCl treatment. Furthermore, elevatednitrogen supply decreased leaf blade DMSP levels, which wasopposite to the response of glycinebetaine, proline, and asparagine.A 1000-fold increase in external sulphate concentration hadno effect on the leaf blade levels of DMSP, glycinebetaine,proline, or asparagine. These findings suggest that the majorphysiological role of DMSP in S. alterniflora leaf blades isnot for osmotic adjustment, even under conditions of nitrogendeficit and excess sulphur. Instead, DMSP which was presentat 45—130 µmol g^–1 dry weight, may play arole as a constitutive organic osmoticum. Key words: Spartina alterniflora, dimethylsulphoniopropionate, glycinebetaine, nitrogen, salinity     

Cytokine profile of autologous conditioned serum for treatment of osteoarthritis, <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>effects on cartilage metabolism and intra-articular levels after injection

Introduction  

Intraarticular administration of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) recently demonstrated some clinical effectiveness in treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). The current study aims to evaluate the in vitro effects of ACS on cartilage proteoglycan (PG) metabolism, its composition and the effects on synovial fluid (SF) cytokine levels following intraarticular ACS administration.     

Effects on Growth and Development of Individual Chromosomes from Slow-growing Lophopyrum elongatum Love when Incorporated into Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Aspects of growth and development were evaluated in the fast-developingannual Triticum aestivum L. ‘Chinese Spring’, theslow-developing perennial Lophopyrum elongatum Löve, theiramphiploid, and chromosome addition and substitution lines ofL. elongatum into ‘Chinese Spring’. Relative growthrates (RGR) of shoots of L. elongatum and the amphiploid werelower than those of ‘Chinese Spring’ (34 and 13%respectively) and main stem development was also slower. Therewas no difference in shoot RGR of any of the chromosome additionor substitution lines and that of ‘Chinese Spring’when assessed between Haun stages 2.0 and 5.0. In contrast,several aspects of plant development were observed to differin the chromosome addition and substitution lines. SubstitutingE genome chromosomes (with the exceptions of 3E and 4E) forD genome chromosomes, or adding E genome chromosomes, slowedthe rate of main stem development, at least up to Haun stage5.0. Despite these differences in the rate of main stem development,the appearance of adventitious roots commenced at approximatelyHaun stage 2.0 in all genotypes. However, the numbers of adventitiousroots and tillers at the 5.0 Haun stage differed between someof the lines when compared to ‘Chinese Spring’.Although incorporation of some L. elongatum chromosomes alteredaspects of plant development, all lines showed more similarityto bread wheat than to L. elongatum, reflecting, in part, thegreater genetic contribution made by bread wheat to these lines.Copyright 2001 Annals of Botany Company Adventitious roots, chromosome addition and substitution lines, Haun stage, Lophopyrum elongatum, relative growth rate (RGR), Triticum aestivum(wheat)     

Spatio-temporal relief from hypoxia and production of reactive oxygen species during bud burst in grapevine (Vitis vinifera)

Background and Aims Plants regulate cellular oxygen partial pressures (pO₂), together with reduction/oxidation (redox) state in order to manage rapid developmental transitions such as bud burst after a period of quiescence. However, our understanding of pO₂ regulation in complex meristematic organs such as buds is incomplete and, in particular, lacks spatial resolution.Methods The gradients in pO₂ from the outer scales to the primary meristem complex were measured in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) buds, together with respiratory CO₂ production rates and the accumulation of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, from ecodormancy through the first 72 h preceding bud burst, triggered by the transition from low to ambient temperatures.Key Results Steep internal pO₂ gradients were measured in dormant buds with values as low as 2·5 kPa found in the core of the bud prior to bud burst. Respiratory CO₂ production rates increased soon after the transition from low to ambient temperatures and the bud tissues gradually became oxygenated in a patterned process. Within 3 h of the transition to ambient temperatures, superoxide accumulation was observed in the cambial meristem, co-localizing with lignified cellulose associated with pro-vascular tissues. Thereafter, superoxide accumulated in other areas subtending the apical meristem complex, in the absence of significant hydrogen peroxide accumulation, except in the cambial meristem. By 72 h, the internal pO₂ gradient showed a biphasic profile, where the minimum pO₂ was external to the core of the bud complex.Conclusions Spatial and temporal control of the tissue oxygen environment occurs within quiescent buds, and the transition from quiescence to bud burst is accompanied by a regulated relaxation of the hypoxic state and accumulation of reactive oxygen species within the developing cambium and vascular tissues of the heterotrophic grapevine buds.     

Treatment with a sphingosine analog after the inception of house dust mite-induced airway inflammation alleviates key features of experimental asthma

Background

In vivo phosphorylation of sphingosine analogs with their ensuing binding and activation of their cell-surface sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors is regarded as the main immunomodulatory mechanism of this new class of drugs. Prophylactic treatment with sphingosine analogs interferes with experimental asthma by impeding the migration of dendritic cells to draining lymph nodes. However, whether these drugs can also alleviate allergic airway inflammation after its onset remains to be determined. Herein, we investigated to which extent and by which mechanisms the sphingosine analog AAL-R interferes with key features of asthma in a murine model during ongoing allergic inflammation induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus.

Methods

BALB/c mice were exposed to either D. pteronyssinus or saline, intranasally, once-daily for 10 consecutive days. Mice were treated intratracheally with either AAL-R, its pre-phosphorylated form AFD-R, or the vehicle before every allergen challenge over the last four days, i.e. after the onset of allergic airway inflammation. On day 11, airway responsiveness to methacholine was measured; inflammatory cells and cytokines were quantified in the airways; and the numbers and/or viability of T cells, B cells and dendritic cells were assessed in the lungs and draining lymph nodes.

Results

AAL-R decreased airway hyperresponsiveness induced by D. pteronyssinus by nearly 70%. This was associated with a strong reduction of IL-5 and IL-13 levels in the airways and with a decreased eosinophilic response. Notably, the lung CD4⁺ T cells were almost entirely eliminated by AAL-R, which concurred with enhanced apoptosis/necrosis in that cell population. This inhibition occurred in the absence of dendritic cell number modulation in draining lymph nodes. On the other hand, the pre-phosphorylated form AFD-R, which preferentially acts on cell-surface sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors, was relatively impotent at enhancing cell death, which led to a less efficient control of T cell and eosinophil responses in the lungs.

Conclusion

Airway delivery of the non-phosphorylated sphingosine analog, but not its pre-phosphorylated counterpart, is highly efficient at controlling the local T cell response after the onset of allergic airway inflammation. The mechanism appears to involve local induction of lymphocyte apoptosis/necrosis, while mildly affecting dendritic cell and T cell accumulation in draining lymph nodes.     

Plant growth and physiology under heterogeneous salinity

Background

Soil salinity is heterogeneous, and within the root-zone of single plants the salinity of the soil solution can vary widely.

Scope

This review shows that water uptake by roots from the least saline part of the soil is the key factor driving shoot growth; plants with part of the root at low salinity (0–10?mM NaCl) had 3- to 10-fold higher shoot dry mass than plants with roots in uniformly saline (50–800?mM NaCl) media. Plants in heterogeneous salinity had shoot water potentials similar to those of plants growing in uniform low-salt media, and this was likely a result of uptake of low salinity water and reduced stomatal conductance. Under heterogeneous conditions, roots in saline media took up ions, resulting in higher shoot Na⁺ and Cl^- concentrations compared with plants growing in low-salt media.

Conclusions

Results from split-root experiments complement knowledge of plant responses to uniform salinities; the next challenge is to develop new protocols so that this understanding can be extrapolated to more complex soil- and field-based systems. More work is also required to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying changes in stomatal conductance and shoot ion regulation in plants under heterogeneous salinities and how these are linked to the saline parts of the root-zone.