Specificity of Glycerol for Dark Growth of Prymnesium parvum

SYNOPSIS. Out of 64 nutrients tested, none replaced glycerol for growth in the dark of Prymnesium parvum. Some metabolites enahanced growth in the light, and in the presence of glycerol also in the clark. Good growth with glycerol could be obtained in the absence of CO₂. Survival of cultures in the dark in media without glycerol was prolonged by various nutrients. Thioglycerol in glycerol-containing media inhibited growth in light and darkness. Apparently Prymnesium parvum has a specific glycerol requirement for dark growth.     

Membrane water permeability and aquaporin expression increase during growth of maize suspension cultured cells

Aquaporins (AQPs) are water channels that allow cells to rapidly alter their membrane water permeability. A convenient model for studying AQP expression and activity regulation is Black Mexican Sweet (BMS) maize cultured cells. In an attempt to correlate membrane osmotic water permeability coefficient (P_f) with AQP gene expression, we first examined the expression pattern of 33 AQP genes using macro-array hybridization. We detected the expression of 18 different isoforms representing the four AQP subfamilies, i.e. eight plasma membrane (PIP), five tonoplast (TIP), three small basic (SIP) and two NOD26-like (NIP) AQPs. While the expression of most of these genes was constant throughout all growth phases, mRNA levels of ZmPIP1;3 , ZmPIP2;1 , ZmPIP2;2, ZmPIP2;4 and ZmPIP2;6 increased significantly during the logarithmic growth phase and the beginning of the stationary phase. The use of specific anti-ZmPIP antisera showed that the protein expression pattern correlated well with mRNA levels. Cell pressure probe and protoplast swelling measurements were then performed to determine the P_f. Interestingly, we found that the P_f were significantly increased at the end of the logarithmic growth phase and during the steady-state phase compared to the lag phase, demonstrating a positive correlation between AQP abundance in the plasma membrane and the cell P_f.     

The Arabidopsis GIBBERELLIN METHYL TRANSFERASE 1 suppresses gibberellin activity,reduces whole‐plant transpiration and promotes drought tolerance in transgenic tomato

Previous studies have shown that reduced gibberellin (GA) level or signal promotes plant tolerance to environmental stresses, including drought, but the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. Here we studied the effects of reduced levels of active GAs on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant tolerance to drought as well as the mechanism responsible for these effects. To reduce the levels of active GAs, we generated transgenic tomato overexpressing the Arabidopsis thaliana GA METHYL TRANSFERASE 1 (AtGAMT1) gene. AtGAMT1 encodes an enzyme that catalyses the methylation of active GAs to generate inactive GA methyl esters. Tomato plants overexpressing AtGAMT1 exhibited typical GA‐deficiency phenotypes and increased tolerance to drought stress. GA application to the transgenic plants restored normal growth and sensitivity to drought. The transgenic plants maintained high leaf water status under drought conditions, because of reduced whole‐plant transpiration. The reduced transpiration can be attributed to reduced stomatal conductance. GAMT1 overexpression inhibited the expansion of leaf‐epidermal cells, leading to the formation of smaller stomata with reduced stomatal pores. It is possible that under drought conditions, plants with reduced GA activity and therefore, reduced transpiration, will suffer less from leaf desiccation, thereby maintaining higher capabilities and recovery rates.     

Physiological factors affecting the rapid decrease in protein assimilation efficiency by a caterpillar on newly‐mature tree leaves

Lymantria dispar L. caterpillars have a decreased ability to assimilate protein from mature leaves of red oak (Quercus rubra) compared with young, expanding leaves. The present study determines whether the drop in protein assimilation efficiency (PAE) occurs during the rapid phase of leaf maturation. Several mechanisms that might account for decreased PAE are also examined: mature leaf tissues could resist being chewed efficiently, protein in mature leaf tissues could become difficult to extract, and other nutrients in mature leaves might become growth limiting. The entire seasonal decrease in PAE occurs rapidly (in less than 2 weeks), when the leaves finished expanding. The maturation process is characterized by increased levels of fibre and decreased levels of water but no significant changes in the levels of protein or carbohydrates. Despite increased fibre in mature leaves, they are not chewed into larger food particles than are immature leaves. Carbohydrate assimilation efficiencies remain high on mature leaves, and signs of limiting water levels in larvae of L. dispar on mature leaves are not observed. The most important finding in the present study is the decreased extractability of protein in food particles from mature leaves, which plays a major role in explaining the rapid decrease in PAE. It is hypothesized that structural changes in cell walls during the rapid process of leaf maturation decrease protein extractability, which, in turn, greatly decreases the nutritional quality of mature oak leaves for caterpillars. The results of the present study therefore suggest a general mechanism to help explain the widely documented decrease in the nutritional quality of the mature leaves of many tree species for herbivorous insects.