Fe对龙葵幼苗Zn毒害耐受性的影响

本研究以龙葵为试验材料,采用水培方法分析了补充Fe对龙葵幼苗Zn毒害耐受性的影响。结果表明,补充200μmol.L 1Fe-EDTA提高了龙葵幼苗对Zn毒害的耐受性。400μmol.L 1ZnCl2处理导致龙葵幼苗株高、根长和叶绿素含量显著减少,并引起H2O2的积累。补充Fe后,植株生长状况得到明显改善,SOD、CAT和APX基因的表达和酶的活性显著提高。同时RT-PCR结果显示,补充Fe后,FeSOD2和CAT1基因的表达明显升高。这些结果表明,Zn毒害对龙葵幼苗生长发育的影响很大程度上可能是由于Zn毒害引起的缺Fe导致的;Zn毒害条件下补充Fe可以通过提高FeSOD2和CAT1基因的表达,提高抗氧化酶的活性,降低ROS的水平,降低植株的氧化伤害。本研究为进一步研究植物响应Zn毒害的生理分子机理,以及植物修复技术的实际应用提供了理论基础。     

铝胁迫下外源抗坏血酸对水稻幼苗抗氧化性能的影响

为探讨外源抗坏血酸(AsA)对铝胁迫下水稻抗氧化损伤的效应,以滇优35号(杂交稻,粳稻)为试验材料,采用溶液培养法研究外源AsA对不同铝浓度(0、50、100、200、400μmol·L^-1)胁迫下水稻根尖H₂O₂含量及抗氧化酶活性等生理生化指标的影响。结果表明,水稻根尖氧化损伤程度随铝浓度的递增而加剧,与对照相比,400μmol·L^-1铝胁迫可导致水稻根尖H₂O₂和MDA含量增加1.53和3.16倍,脯氨酸含量、SOD、POD、APX和CAT活性分别增加1.73、1.39、1.42、1.76和1.56倍,内源AsA含量减少0.53倍;而施用外源AsA处理的根尖H₂O₂和MDA含量只增加1.04和2.69倍,内源AsA含量减少0.46倍,脯氨酸含量增加1.96倍,SOD、POD、APX和CAT活性分别增加1.48、1.63、1.90和1.89倍。综上所述,外源AsA可通过增强渗透调节物质含量来维护质膜结构的完整性...     

外源抗坏血酸与谷胱甘肽对打顶后烟草氧化 还原平衡及烟碱的影响

烟碱含量偏高是我国烤烟的现状。如何有效降低烟叶烟碱含量,提高烤烟工业可用性是烟叶生产中的一个难题。根据烟草打顶导致烟碱含量急剧上升和机械损伤造成细胞氧化迸发的的现象,本试验从打顶创伤引起的一系列生理变化入手,采取打顶后在伤口涂抹抗氧化剂抗坏血酸+谷胱甘肽(As A+GSH)和抗坏血酸(As A)两种方法来抑制活性氧含量的上升,探究茉莉酸刺激烟碱含量上升和活性氧含量之间的关系,并比较两种方法在抑制活性氧及烟碱上升的效果。结果发现,涂抹As A+GSH和As A处理对烟草叶片超氧阴离子、过氧化氢、丙二醛的上升有抑制效果,过氧化氢降解速度慢于超氧阴离子,在烟草内有积累现象。涂抹As A+GSH和As A处理在打顶6 h时茉莉酸含量低于常规打顶,对茉莉酸的产生有抑制效果。其中处理96 h后,打顶后涂抹As A+GSH的处理叶片烟碱含量比常规打顶低21.5%,打顶后涂抹As A的处理叶片烟碱含量比常规打顶低17.5%。且各检测指标之间存在显著或极显著的相关性。另外,打顶后24 h,各处理的活性氧含量回到对照(不打顶)的水平。试验表明,抗氧化型物质(As A+GSH)涂抹打顶后烟草的伤口能有效抑制活性氧、茉莉酸和烟碱含量的上升,且活性氧、茉莉酸、烟碱之间存在着密切联系。As A+GSH比As A有更强的抗氧化性,能更好地抑制打顶后烟碱的上升。     

Ascorbic Acid Alleviates Toxicity Induced by Excess Copper in Brassica campestris Ssp. Chinensis Makino

In this study, the changes in mineral elements content, chlorophyll, malondialdehyde (MDA), ascorbic acid (AsA), and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylation level were studied in leaves of three cultivars of non-heading Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris ssp., chinensis Makino) under copper stress, and the role of exogenous AsA was also investigated. Under copper stress, the copper content in leaves increased significantly, while it is lowest in “Wutacai”, which showed the highest copper tolerance in the three cultivars of non-heading Chinese cabbage. Mineral elements such as iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) reduced remarkably, the content of chlorophyll decreased, while MDA and DNA methylation level increased significantly. Compared with that under copper treatment, exogenous AsA decreased the contents of copper and MDA, and DNA methylation level, while increased the content of chlorophyll and other mineral contents, which implied that AsA alleviates copper stress in non-heading Chinese cabbage.     

油菜素内酯对龙葵幼苗Cd毒害耐受性的影响

以重金属超富集植物龙葵为试验材料,分析了油菜素内酯(BR)对幼苗镉(Cd)毒害耐受性影响的生理机制。Cd毒害导致龙葵幼苗出现氧化伤害,同时降低了幼苗超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性。表油菜素内酯(eBL,人工合成的BR)处理增加了龙葵幼苗对Cd毒害的敏感性,与eBL处理的结果相反,施用油菜素唑(Brz,BR合成的特异性抑制剂)增加了Cd毒害下龙葵幼苗的抗氧化酶活性,降低了ROS的累积,减少了幼苗的氧化伤害。Brz处理后幼苗株高和根长较Cd处理的对照分别增加29%和28%,MDA水平和Evans blue染色程度较Cd处理的对照分别降低37%和20%,进一步证明BR增加了Cd毒害下龙葵幼苗的氧化伤害,从而加重了Cd胁迫对幼苗生长的抑制作用。表明BR通过降低龙葵幼苗的抗氧化能力,增加了幼苗对Cd毒害的敏感性。     

DNA damage after acute and chronic treatment with malathion in rats

Malathion is an insecticide widely used in agriculture and in public health programs that when used indiscriminately in large amounts can cause environmental pollution and risk to human health. However, it is possible that during the metabolism of malathion, reactive oxygen species can be generated, and malathion may produce oxidative stress in intoxicated rats that can be responsible for alterations in DNA molecules related in some studies. As a result, the present study aimed to investigate the DNA damage of cerebral tissue and peripheral blood in rats after acute and chronic malathion exposure. We used single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) to measure early damage in hippocampus and peripheral blood and the Micronucleus test in total erythrocytes samples. Malathion was administered intraperitoneally once a day for one day (acute) or for 28 days (chronic) protocols (in both protocols, malathion was administered at 25, 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg). Our results showed that malathion (100 and 150 mg/kg) increased the DNA damage index in the peripheral blood and in the hippocampus after both chronic and acute treatment. Malathion increased the frequency of micronuclei only in chronic treatment at 150 mg/kg dose, and induced a cytotoxic dose-dependent decrease in the frequency of polychromatic erythrocytes in the peripheral blood of rats. In conclusion, since malathion increased both the peripheral blood and hippocampus DNA damage index using the Comet assay and increased the frequency of micronuclei in the total peripheral blood, it can be regarded as a potential mutagen/carcinogenic agent.     

棉花幼苗AsA-GSH循环对低温胁迫的响应机制研究

为探究棉花幼苗营养器官抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽(AsA-GSH)循环系统对低温胁迫的响应机制,以新陆早57号为试验材料,研究4℃低温胁迫不同时间(0、1和2 d)对根、茎和叶中抗氧化物质含量和酶活性的影响。结果表明,与对照(0 d)相比,随着低温胁迫时间延长,棉花幼苗根中还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)含量及单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性呈上升趋势,氧化型抗坏血酸(DHA)含量先减少后增加,氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量和脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)活性先升高后降低,谷胱甘肽氧化还原状态(GSH/GSSG比率)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性总体呈下降趋势,抗坏血酸氧化还原状态(AsA/DHA比率)、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)活性无显著性差异;茎和叶中AsA和GSH含量、AsA/DHA比率及APX、MDHAR和GR活性总体呈上升趋势,且茎中DHAR活性升高,DHA和GSSG含量先减少后增加,GSH/GSSG比率和GPX活性无显著性差异,而叶中DHA含量和GSH/GSSG比率先不变后增加,DHAR活性先升高后降低,GSSG含量和GPX活性无显著性差异。综合分析显示,棉花幼苗通过调节根、茎和叶中抗氧化物质含量和酶活性来清除活性氧,从而适应低温胁迫,减轻低温伤害。此外,低温对根中AsA-GSH循环影响最大。本研究结果为揭示低温胁迫对棉花幼苗AsA-GSH循环代谢机制提供了理论依据。     

大豆磷铁养分胁迫响应的FER基因鉴定及FER1缓解铁毒作用

  【目的】  FERRITIN (FER)是一类保守铁蛋白,对于维持铁的稳态及铁代谢中起重要作用。通过鉴定大豆FERRITIN (GmFER)基因家族的组成及其对低磷、铁毒等养分胁迫的响应,为今后研究FER功能奠定基础。  【方法】  对GmFER基因进行生物信息学分析,根据其编码的GmFER氨基酸序列,用ProtParam tool网站计算了GmFER家族的相对分子质量、氨基酸组成和等电点(PI);用PSORT网站预测GmFERs蛋白定位;从Phytozome网站下载GmFER家族的氨基酸序列与基因启动子序列,用 MEME 预测GmFER家族序列中的保守基序;用MEGA X对GmFERs进行进化分析,用最大似然法重建进化树;通过定量PCR分析GmFER对低磷、铁毒等养分胁迫的响应,构建GmFER1基因启动子融合GUS 报告基因的载体与GmFER1超表达载体,进一步分析GmFER1基因启动子活性和对铁毒的响应,以及异源超表达GmFER1对拟南芥耐受铁毒的影响。  【结果】  大豆基因组有12个GmFER基因,对GmFERs进行进化分析,发现GmFERs可以分为4个亚组(亚组Ⅰ～Ⅳ),其中GmFER3、GmFER7、GmFER8、GmFER10和GmFER11属于亚组Ⅰ,GmFER2和GmFER9同属亚组Ⅱ;GmFER5和禾本科植物水稻和玉米的FER同属亚组Ⅲ,GmFER1、GmFER4、GmFER6、GmFER12属于亚组Ⅳ;通过MEME预测,GmFER家族序列中的保守基序有3个;蛋白亚细胞定位预测显示,大豆FER蛋白可定位于细胞质、线粒体和叶绿体。运用定量PCR技术检测GmFER基因在大豆根和叶的表达水平,发现12个GmFER基因在响应磷铁养分胁迫时存在差异,其中GmFER1、GmFER4、GmFER5、GmFER6、GmFER12受低磷诱导,GmFER1、GmFER4、GmFER12表达受铁毒诱导;对GmFER1启动子的活性进行分析,发现铁毒促进GmFER1启动子在根系的活性;在铁毒胁迫下,与野生型Col-0比,超表达GmFER1显著提高了拟南芥的主根长、侧根数目、侧根密度、叶绿素含量和鲜重,增强了耐铁毒的能力。  【结论】  大豆基因组共有12个FER基因,GmFER基因响应低磷或铁毒等养分胁迫。超表达GmFER1可促进主根生长,增加侧根密度,提高叶绿素含量,增加植株鲜重,表明GmFER1在缓解铁毒胁迫方面起重要作用。     

Lipophilic Caffeic Acid Derivatives Protect Cells against H(2)O(2)-Induced DNA Damage by Chelating Intracellular Labile Iron

Naturally occurring cinnamic acid derivatives are ubiquitously distributed in the plant kingdom, and it has been proposed that their consumption contributes to the maintenance of human health. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their health keeping effects remain unknown. In the present investigation, we evaluated the capacity of several cinnamic acid derivatives (trans-cinnamic, p-coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acids, as well as caffeic acid-methyl and -propyl esters) to protect cells from oxidative stress-induced DNA damage. It was observed that effective protection was based on the ability of each compound to (i) reach the intracellular space and (ii) chelate intracellular "labile" iron. These results support the notion that numerous lipophilic iron chelating compounds, present abundantly in plant-derived diet components, may protect cells in conditions of oxidative stress and in this way be important contributors toward maintenance of human health.     

细胞膜H+-ATP酶在植物矿质营养中的作用

细胞膜H+-ATP酶是植物体内一类重要的质子泵,也是一种极其关键的转运蛋白,在植物各种生命活动中具有重要的功能。本文综述了细胞膜H+-ATP酶的活性调控机制,及其在植物根系吸收与利用矿质营养中的生理作用。细胞膜H+-ATP酶通过消耗ATP将细胞质中的H+排出,为养分离子的跨膜转运,以及有机酸和生物硝化抑制剂等物质的分泌提供细胞膜电位和质子驱动力。在缺磷、缺铁和铝毒等营养逆境下,细胞膜H+-ATP酶在受诱导后通过分泌H+使根际酸化,从而提高磷和铁的有效性,还通过促进有机酸分泌来活化土壤中的矿物态磷,并且可以降低铝离子的毒害。此外,细胞膜H+-ATP酶还参与调节植物根系的生长以及植物与丛枝菌根真菌的共生。通过遗传途径调节细胞膜H+-ATP酶及其上游调节因子,如蛋白激酶和磷酸酶等基因的表达,以及对细胞膜H+-ATP酶的特定氨基酸位点进行突变,可以改良作物细胞膜H+-ATP酶的活性。这是一种提高作物养分利用效率、增强作物抵抗营养逆境的有效策略。     

Effects of sulfur nutrition on photosynthesis in cadmium‐treated barley seedlings

The effects of sulfur (S) nutrition at 0.1 or 1 mM S on cadmium (Cd) toxicity measured by photosynthesis in barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. UC 476) seedlings were studied. Eight‐day‐old seedlings were treated with 25 μM Cd by adding cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) to the nutrient solution. Then photosynthetic carboxylation efficiency (ACi curve) and stomatal conductance of the primary and second leaves were measured at four and eight days after Cd treatment. Fluorescence parameters were measured every 24 h for eight days after two days of Cd treatment. At 20 days, plant growth parameters were measured and dry biomass determined. The results showed that ACi was significantly reduced by Cd, but more in the low (0.1 mM) S than in the high (1 mM) S‐treated plants. Stomatal conductance of plants was also decreased by Cd, but more in the low S‐treated plants. Low S‐treated plants exposed to Cd showed an increase in Fo and Fq, and a decrease in Fv/Fm and T_1/2, indicating photoinhibitory damage to PSII. Analysis of the growth parameters showed that Cd decreased plant size and biomass, but the reduction was more severe in the low S‐treated plants. These results support the hypothesis that S is a critical nutritional factor in plants which is important for the reduction of Cd toxicity.     

H_2S对低温胁迫下甜樱桃柱头和子房AsA-GSH循环的响应

为了探究H_2S对甜樱桃花器官低温伤害的缓解机理,以甜樱桃品种早大果为试材,分析了不同浓度H_2S供体NaHS对低温胁迫下甜樱桃柱头和子房AsA-GSH循环系统的影响。结果表明,喷施0.02、0.05、0.1 mmol·L~(-1)的NaHS均可降低低温胁迫下甜樱桃柱头和子房超氧阴离子(O_2~-)、过氧化氢(H_2O_2)、丙二醛(MDA)含量,显著提高还原型抗坏血酸(AsA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量(P0.05),降低氧化型抗坏血酸(DHA)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)含量,使AsA/DHA和GSH/GSSG比值显著升高(P0.05),以0.05 mmol·L~(-1)NaHS效果最显著;0.02、0.05、0.1 mmol·L~(-1)的NaHS均显著提高低温胁迫下柱头和子房AsA-GSH循环中抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)、单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDAR)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)和谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)的活性(P0.05),以0.05 mmol·L~(-1)NaHS提高上述酶活性的幅度最大。NaHS的浓度大于0.2 mmol·L~(-1)不再提高低温胁迫下AsA-GSH循环效率;低温胁迫下添加NaHS的同时添加H_2S清除剂HT可解除H_2S的效果。综上所述,喷施适量外源H_2S可有效降低低温胁迫下O_2~-、H_2O,和MDA积累,提高AsA-GSH循环效率,减轻低温对甜樱桃柱头和子房的氧化伤害。本研究结果为明确H_2S缓解甜樱桃花器官低温伤害作用机制以及生产上花期低温伤害预防提供了理论依据。     

Protective effect of supplementation of fish oil with high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids against oxidative stress-induced DNA damage of rat liver in vivo

The present study was undertaken to know the effect of supplementation of fish oil with high n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on oxidative stress-induced DNA damage of rat liver in vivo. Male Wistar rats were fed a diet containing fish oil or safflower oil with high n-6 PUFA at 50 g/kg of diet and an equal amount of vitamin E at 59 mg/kg of diet for 6 weeks. Livers of rats fed fish oil were rich in n-3 PUFA, whereas those of rats fed safflower oil were rich in n-6 PUFA. Ferric nitrilotriacetate was intraperitoneally injected to induce oxidative stress. The degree of lipid peroxidation of the liver was assessed by the levels of phospholipid hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and the degree of oxidative DNA damage was assessed by comet type characterization in alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels. The levels of TBARS of the livers of the fish oil diet group increased to a greater extent than those of the safflower oil diet group, whereas the levels of the hydroperoxides of the livers of both diet groups increased to a similar extent. The vitamin E level of livers of the fish oil diet group was remarkably decreased. The degree of DNA damage of both diet groups was increased, but the increased level of the fish oil diet group was remarkably lower than that of the safflower oil diet group. The above results indicate that fish oil supplementation does not enhance but appears to protect against oxidative stress-induced DNA damage and suggest that lipid peroxidation does not enhance but lowers the DNA damage.     

Direct in vivo evidence of protective effects of grape seed procyanidin fractions and other antioxidants against ethanol-induced oxidative DNA damage in mouse brain cells

Ethanol is a principle ingredient of alcoholic beverages with potential neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity, and the ethanol-associated oxidative DNA damage in the central nervous system is well documented. The present work studied the possible protective effects of grape seed oligomer and polymer procyanidin fractions against ethanol-induced toxicity and compared these with resveratrol and other well-known antioxidants (ascorbic acid and vitamin E). By using the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay), a simple and sensitive technique for genotoxicity studies, the potential genotoxicity of acute and chronic ethanol administration in the different brain regions was investigated. Acute ethanol administration, at the dose of 2.5 or 5.0 g kg(-1) i.p., could induce significant DNA damage in cerebellum and hippocampus. Chronic administration of ethanol at the dose of 2.5 or 5.0 g kg-1 p.o. for 30 days could induce significant DNA damage in cerebellum, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and cortex, which could be auto-repaired at least 3 days after ethanol withdrawal. Oral administration of grape seed oligomer and polymer procyanidins and resveratrol (25, 50, and 100 mg kg(-1)) for 3 days before acute ethanol (5.0 g kg(-1), i.p.) or repeated administration of these substances together with ethanol (5.0 g kg(-1), p.o.) for 30 consecutive days could significantly inhibit DNA damage in brain cells induced by ethanol. As compared, ascorbic acid (50, 100, and 200 mg kg(-1)) and vitamin E (100, 200, and 400 mg kg(-1)) could also present protective effects on ethanol-induced DNA damage. Furthermore, the concentrations of ethanol and acetaldehyde in brain regions of the mice were detected by gas chromatography after administration of ethanol plus antioxidants. All of the results indicated that ethanol could induce region-specific oxidative DNA damage in which the cerebellum and hippocampus were more vulnerable, but intake of grape seed procyanidins or other natural antioxidants could protect the brain against ethanol-induced genotoxicity.     

Genotoxic Effects of Aluminum on the Neotropical Fish Prochilodus lineatus

Applying an integrated approach using the Comet, micronucleus (MN), and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assays, occurrence of erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) and the liver activity of antioxidants enzymes (catalase and glutathione-S-transferase (GST)) was carried out to evaluate the effects of acute (6, 24, and 96 h) and subchronic (15 days) exposures to aluminum on fish Prochilodus lineatus. The Comet assay showed that fish erythrocytes exhibited significantly higher DNA damage after 6 and 96 h of Al exposure. MN frequencies were very low and did not increase significantly after Al exposures, while ENAs frequency increased significantly after all exposure periods. RAPD profiles obtained with DNA from fish fins collected before the toxicity tests were compared to the profiles with DNA from gills and liver of the same fish sampled after Al exposures. Alterations in RAPD profiles, including appearance and disappearance of bands, after 6 h, 24 h, and 15 days of Al exposure were detected. Fish exposed to Al for 6 and 24 h also showed significant increases in GST and catalase activities. These results indicated that Al exposure was genotoxic to P. lineatus, inducing DNA damage in peripheral erythrocytes. The induction of antioxidant enzymes might be an indication that Al causes oxidative damage to DNA, while the very low frequency of MN suggests that Al does not produce clastogenic or aneugenic effects. Genotoxic effects after 15 days of Al exposure was revealed only by RAPD, showing that this assay represents a sensitive method to detect genotoxic damage, occasionally not detected by other genotoxic tests used in toxicological genetics studies.     

Black tea polyphenols, theaflavins, prevent cellular DNA damage by inhibiting oxidative stress and suppressing cytochrome P450 1A1 in cell cultures.

Tea polyphenols have been demonstrated as chemopreventive agents in a number of experimental models. However, less is known about the mechanism of chemoprevention by black tea compared with that of green tea. Some beneficial properties of theaflavins, the black tea polyphenols, were investigated in the present study. Theaflavins showed inhibitory effects on H(2)O(2)- and tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBuOOH)-induced cytotoxicity (evaluated by tetrazolium bromide reduction), cellular oxidative stress (detected by oxidation of 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin), and DNA damage (measured by amount of 8-OHdG and comet assay) in rat normal liver epithelium cell RL-34 cell lines. In addition, theaflavins also exhibited suppression of cytochrome P450 1A1 induced by omeprazole in the human hepatoma HepG2 cell line. Furthermore, when HepG2 cells were pretreated with omeprazole to induce CYP1A1, then exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), DNA damage was observed using the comet assay. However, theaflavins could inhibit this DNA damage. These results indicated that theaflavins could prevent cellular DNA damage by inhibiting oxidative stress and suppressing cytochrome P450 1A1 in cell cultures.     

茭白肉质茎膨大期间的氧化胁迫

以＂雄茭＂为参照,研究了茭白肉质茎膨大期间的氧化胁迫状况。肉质茎膨大开始后,茎中H2O2和MDA含量快速上升,并分别在6和8d达到最大,约为膨大前的6.5倍和3.7倍,此后降至膨大初期水平。抗坏血酸（AsA）在肉质茎即将膨大前上升约30%,但膨大后快速下降处于较低水平,为0d的25%～30%。氧化型抗坏血酸比例在膨大开...     

Genetic modification of low phytic acid 1-1 maize to enhance iron content and bioavailability

High phytate content in staple food crops is a major barrier to successful iron biofortification. We have exploited the low phytic acid 1-1 (lpa1-1) mutant of maize to generate transgenic plants with up-to 70 μg/g seed iron through the endosperm-specific overexpression of soybean ferritin, resulting in more than 2-fold improvement in iron bioavailability. The levels of bioavailable seed iron achieved in this study greatly exceed any achieved thus far and closely approach values estimated to have a nutritional impact on target populations. Gene expression studies reveal a large induction of the YS1 transporter in leaves and severe repression of an iron acquisition gene DMAS1 in roots, suggesting significant alterations in the iron homeostatic mechanisms in transgenic lpa1-1. Furthermore, preliminary tests show that the high-iron lpa1-1 seeds have higher germination rates and seedling vigor when compared to those of the nontransgenic seeds, which may help improve their value to plant breeders.     

Seed priming to mitigate the impact of elevated carbon dioxide associated temperature stress on germination in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

ABSTRACT

Climate change has a negative impact on crop production by inducing several stresses throughout plant growth. As the germination is one of the critical stages, this study was to assess the impact of elevated carbon dioxide (eCO₂) and associated temperature stress on germination of rice. The study was conducted using the rice genotype CO 51 in artificially induced eCO₂ condition using open-top chamber (OTC). The efficiency of seed priming treatment with salicylic acid (SA), citric acid (CA), ascorbic acid (AsA) and distilled water (hydropriming) to alleviate stress due to eCO₂ and temperature were also studied. SA 25 mg l^?1 and AsA 100 mg l^?1 enhanced germination, other seed quality parameters along with α- amylase activity. Also, the activity of antioxidant enzymes like catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase was increased. These parameters positively affected the germination and growth by mitigating the effect of oxidative stress induced under eCO₂ conditions. So, SA, CA and AsA can be effectively used for maintaining seed quality parameters and seedling growth during the stresses.     

Foliar application of zinc promotes cadmium absorption by increasing expression of cadmium transporter genes and activities of antioxidative enzymes in winter wheat

Cadmium (Cd) is a deleterious non-essential metal in plants.To elucidate the mechanisms by which zinc (Zn) application alleviates cadmium (Cd)toxicity in wheat,we characterized plant growth,antioxidant system,leaf cell ultrastructure,and Cd transporter gene expression in winter wheat under Cd exposure (50μmol L^-1Cd) with foliar Zn application in a hydroponic experiment.Results showed that Zn addition (Zn+Cd) or pretreatment (pre-Zn+Cd) at 2 g L^-1as Zn SO₄·7H_...