Polyunsaturated Aldehydes from Large Phytoplankton of the Atlantic Ocean Surface (42°N to 33°S)

Polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) are organic compounds mainly produced by diatoms, after cell wounding. These compounds are increasingly reported as teratogenic for species of grazers and deleterious for phytoplanktonic species, but there is still scarce information regarding concentration ranges and the composition of PUAs in the open ocean. In this study, we analyzed the spatial distribution and the type of aldehydes produced by the large-sized (>10 μm) phytoplankton in the Atlantic Ocean surface. Analyses were conducted on PUAs released after mechanical disruption of the phytoplankton cells, referred to here as potential PUAs (pPUAs). Results show the ubiquitous presence of pPUA in the open ocean, including upwelling areas, as well as oligotrophic gyres. Total pPUA concentrations ranged from zero to 4.18 pmol from cells in 1 L. Identified PUAs were heptadienal, octadienal and decadienal, with heptadienal being the most common (79% of total stations). PUA amount and composition across the Atlantic Ocean was mainly related to the nitrogen:phosphorus ratio, suggesting nutrient-driven mechanisms of PUA production. Extending the range of trophic conditions considered by adding data reported for productive coastal waters, we found a pattern of PUA variation in relation to trophic status.     

The Effect of Dissolved Polyunsaturated Aldehydes on Microzooplankton Growth Rates in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coastal Waters

Allelopathy is wide spread among marine phytoplankton, including diatoms, which can produce cytotoxic secondary metabolites such as polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUA). Most studies on diatom-produced PUA have been dedicated to their inhibitory effects on reproduction and development of marine invertebrates. However, little information exists on their impact on key herbivores in the ocean, microzooplankton. This study examined the effects of dissolved 2E,4E-octadienal and 2E,4E-heptadienal on the growth rates of natural ciliate and dinoflagellate populations in the Chesapeake Bay and the coastal Atlantic waters. The overall effect of PUA on microzooplankton growth was negative, especially at the higher concentrations, but there were pronounced differences in response among common planktonic species. For example, the growth of Codonella sp., Leegaardiella sol, Prorodon sp., and Gyrodinium spirale was impaired at 2 nM, whereas Strombidium conicum, Cyclotrichium gigas, and Gymnodinium sp. were not affected even at 20 nM. These results indicate that PUA can induce changes in microzooplankton dynamics and species composition.     

Quantification of dissolved and particulate polyunsaturated aldehydes in the Adriatic sea

Polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUA) are supposed to play critical roles in chemically-mediated plankton interactions. Laboratory studies suggest that they act as mediators of chemical defense and chemical communication. PUA are oxylipins containing an α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated aldehyde structure element and are mainly found in diatoms. We present here a detailed surface mapping of PUA during a spring bloom of the diatom Skeletonema marinoi in the Adriatic Sea. We monitored dissolved PUA, as well as particulate PUA, which are produced by phytoplankton after cell disintegration. Our survey revealed a patchy distribution of PUA and shows that at most stations S. marinoi is the major contributor to the overall PUA. Our data also suggest that lysis of a diatom bloom can contribute significantly to the dissolved PUA concentrations and that other producers, which are smaller in cell size compared to diatoms, have to be taken into account as well if the total PUA content of marine samples is considered. The analyses of samples collected in deeper water suggests that diatom contribution to PUA decreases with depth, while smaller-sized unidentified organisms take place as dominant contributors to the PUA concentrations.     

亚麻耐渍的生理机制研究初探

通过研究渍涝胁迫下,不同耐渍型亚麻品种的株高、工艺长度、出麻率等农艺性状以及植株丙二醛(MDA)含量、过氧化物酶(POD)活性的变化,初步揭示了亚麻耐渍的生理机制。试验结果表明:1、渍涝影响亚麻的农艺性状,具体表现在株高降低、工艺长度减短、出麻率下降等方面;渍涝胁迫下根部皮层通气组织的发育是衡量亚麻耐渍强弱的重要特性;2、随着渍涝胁迫时间的增加,不同耐渍型品种植株丙二醛(MDA)含量均有不同程度的增加,且非耐渍型品种的增加幅度大于耐渍型品种,说明渍涝胁迫下,耐渍型品种具有很强的抗膜脂过氧化的能力;3、随着渍涝胁迫时间的增加,不同耐渍型品种过氧化物酶(POD)活性都呈先升高后下降的趋势,耐渍型品种的变化大于非耐渍型品种,说明在渍涝胁迫下耐渍型品种体内过氧化物酶清除活性氧的能力高于非耐渍型品种。     

亚麻耐渍的生理机制研究初探

通过研究渍涝胁迫下,不同耐渍型亚麻品种的株高、工艺长度、出麻率等农艺性状以及植株丙二醛（MDA）含量、过氧化物酶（POD）活性的变化,初步揭示了亚麻耐渍的生理机制.试验结果表明：1、渍涝影响亚麻的农艺性状,具体表现在株高降低、工艺长度减短、出麻率下降等方面;渍涝胁迫下根部皮层通气组织的发育是衡量亚麻耐渍强弱的重要特性;2、随着渍涝胁迫时间的增加,不同耐溃型品种植株丙二醛（MDA）含量均有不同程度的增加,且非耐渍型品种的增加幅度大于耐渍型品种,说明渍涝胁迫下,耐渍型品种具有很强的抗膜脂过氧化的能力;3、随着渍涝胁迫时间的增加,不同耐渍型品种过氧化物酶（POD）活性都呈先升高后下降的趋势,耐渍型品种的变化大于非耐渍型品种,说明在渍涝胁迫下耐渍型品种体内过氧化物酶清除活性氧的能力高于非耐渍型品种.     

Inventory of Fatty Acid Desaturases in the Pennate Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The diatom Phaeodactylum is rich in very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Fatty acid (FA) synthesis, elongation, and desaturation have been studied in depth in plants including Arabidopsis, but for secondary endosymbionts the full picture remains unclear. FAs are synthesized up to a chain length of 18 carbons inside chloroplasts, where they can be incorporated into glycerolipids. They are also exported to the ER for phospho- and betaine lipid syntheses. Elongation of FAs up to 22 carbons occurs in the ER. PUFAs can be reimported into plastids to serve as precursors for glycerolipids. In both organelles, FA desaturases are present, introducing double bonds between carbon atoms and giving rise to a variety of molecular species. In addition to the four desaturases characterized in Phaeodactylum (FAD2, FAD6, PtD5, PtD6), we identified eight putative desaturase genes. Combining subcellular localization predictions and comparisons with desaturases from other organisms like Arabidopsis, we propose a scheme at the whole cell level, including features that are likely specific to secondary endosymbionts.     

4个早稻品种苗期低温胁迫的耐寒性比较

采用人工模拟低温条件,以株两优505、金优268、中嘉早17和株两优819等4个早稻品种为试验材料,研究低温处理期和常温恢复期间4个品种耐寒生理指标的变化。结果表明,株两优505经低温胁迫后各项指标均表现为耐寒特征,且常温恢复期电导率和MDA含量大幅降低,叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量上升,酶活性增强,表明其幼苗低温胁迫后能恢复正常生长,其耐寒性高于其他3个品种;中嘉早17经低温胁迫后的电导率和MDA含量大幅增加,且在常温恢复期仍维持高水平,表现为冷敏感特征,说明其幼苗低温胁迫后受到严重损伤,其耐寒性差;金优268和株两优819介于两者之间,耐寒性中等。     

Comparison of Root System Development in Two Rice Cultivars During Stress Recovery from Drought and the Plant Traits for Drought Resistance

Summary

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to compare root system development of two upland rice cultivars, IRAT 13 and Senshou, during recovery from drought stress and to identify the plant traits that confer drought resistance. From 62 days after sowing (62 DAS), drought stress was given for 6 d followed by rewatering for 14 d. Root length density (RLD) and root diameter (thickness) were measured at the end of the stress and rewatering periods. Control plants were well-watered throughout the study. Gultivar IRAT 13 had thicker roots and higher relative RLD (ratio of RLD in drought-stressed plants to that in control plants) than under drought stress, and significantly higher root growth recovery after rewatering cultivar Senshou. Related plant traits such as evapotranspiration (ET), leaf and stem dry weights and weight of senescent leaves (dead leaves) in IRAT 13 were significantly more favorable for drought resistance compared to Senshou.     

Growth of the whole root system for a plant crop of sugarcane under rainfed and irrigated environments in Brazil

Sugarcane crops are managed over 8 million hectares in Brazil and future extensions might occur on less favorable lands where irrigation would be necessary to increase and stabilize yields. Root growth was studied by sequential soil coring under rainfed and irrigated conditions for one cultivar widely planted in Brazil. Root length densities (RLD) were measured 34, 49, 125, 179, 241 and 322 days after planting (DAP) down to a depth of 1 m. At the harvest (332 DAP), root intersects (a proxy for RLD) were counted on two vertical trench walls in each water supply regime, down to a depth of 6.0 m. The highest RLD in deep layers (below a depth of 0.6 m) were observed in the rainfed crop from 125 DAP onwards. By contrast, the highest RLD in the upper layers during dry periods were found in the irrigated crop. The maximum depth reached by roots at the harvest was little affected by irrigation: 4.70 m and 4.25 m in the rainfed and irrigated crop, respectively. About 50% of root intersects were observed below the depth of 1 m in the two water supply regimes. This pattern suggested a strong genetic control of root growth in deep soil layers. The total amount of root intersects 332 DAP was 49% higher in the rainfed crop than in the irrigated crop, and root distribution was more homogeneous. Mean root front velocity was about 0.5 cm day⁻¹ the first 4 months after planting and increased thereafter up to the end of the harvest (1.86 cm day⁻¹ and 1.75 cm day⁻¹ on average in the rainfed and the irrigated crops, respectively). Our study pointed out the necessity to take into account the development of sugarcane roots in deep soil layers to improve our understanding of net primary production control by water availability.     

The Occurrence of Delayed Stem Senescence in Relation to trans-Zeatin Riboside Level in the Xylem Exudate in Soybeans Grown under Excess-Wet and Drought Soil Conditions

Abstract

Delayed stem senescence (DSS) after pod maturation in soybean (Glycine max) lowers the quality of products in the mechanized harvest. The effects of drought and excess wet soil conditions on the occurrence of DSS were studied with special reference to remobilization of vegetative nitrogen and supply of cytokinin via xylem. Excess wet soil treatment was applied throughout the reproductive period to field-grown soybean in 2003 (Exp.1) and short-term drought stress treatment was applied during the reproductive period to pot-grown soybean plants in 2004 (Exp.2). The degree of DSS at pod maturing was evaluated by the DSS score from “1” for severe DSS to “5” for completely synchronous senescence of pods and vegetative parts. The DSS score in Exp.1 varied from 2.2 to 2.5 and that in Exp.2 from 2.8 to 3.7. Excess wet soil treatment in Exp.1 promoted the occurrence of DSS, while drought stress treatments during the periods of flowering to pod elongation, later seed-filling and seed maturing decreased it. The soybean plants that showed distinct DSS had lower ratios of seed number to vegetative dry weight at seed maturity and a lower rate of nitrogen remobilization from vegetative organs to seeds during the latter half of the reproductive period. The trans-zeatin riboside (t-ZR) level in xylem exudate tended to be higher in soybeans with severer DSS than in those normally matured in both experiments showing increased t-ZR concentration and/or higher exudation rate. These results suggest that DSS can be caused by a wet soil water condition, which lowers pod/seed number and increases vegetative organs mediated by the increased supply of cytokinin through xylem during seed-filling.