Efficient cell reprogramming as a target for functional‐marker strategies? Towards new perspectives in applied plant‐nutrition research

The review aims at visualizing and strengthening approximation of current strategies in plant breeding, plant nutrition, and molecular biology. Innovations in new breeding strategies on quantitative traits are based on the development of functional DNA markers. This requires knowledge on robust physiological key reactions or parameters in view of the desired agronomic trait. To understand the significance of adaptive molecular‐physiological factors for the expression of agronomic traits in quantitative terms, systems analyses have to demonstrate the phenotypic effect of differential gene activities. The logistic to advance in applied systems biology is currently being strongly discussed. In the present contribution, identification of target cells, which are important for agronomic traits, is stressed as a key for future modeling and virtual experimentation. Integration of target cells in systems analysis should allow to link top‐down approaches, that start at the whole‐plant level, with bottom‐up approaches, that come from the molecular level. To illustrate the importance of adaptive cell reprogramming for agronomic traits, reprogramming of rhizodermic cells to trichoblasts is pointed out in its role for nutrient efficiency (NE). The nature of molecular factors, which may serve as functional markers in breeding, is discussed in view of future marker developments.     

Towards understanding the ecology and mechanisms of biocontrol of Clonostachys rosea IK726

Clonostachys rosea (syn. Gliocladium roseum) IK726 was originally selected as an effective biocontrol agent (BCA) against cereal seed borne diseases caused by Fusarium culmorum and Bipolaris sorokiniana. We have studied the efficacy of the antagonist against different pathogens in several crops and found that the antagonist also is able to control Alternaria radicina and A. dauci on carrot seeds and different cold-storage fungi in acorns. IK726 is also able to reduce…     

Levantilides A and B, 20-membered macrolides from a Micromonospora strain isolated from the Mediterranean deep sea sediment

Two new 20-membered macrolides, levantilide A and B, were isolated from the Micromonospora strain M71-A77. Strain M71-A77 was recovered from an Eastern Mediterranean deep-sea sediment sample and revealed to produce the levantilides under in situ salinity of 38.6 ‰. The chemical structures of the levantilides were elucidated on the basis of different one- and two- dimensional NMR experiments. Levantilide A exhibits a moderate antiproliferative activity against several tumor cell lines.     

Fumonisins affect the intestinal microbial homeostasis in broiler chickens,predisposing to necrotic enteritis

Fumonisins (FBs) are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium fungi. This study aimed to investigate the effect of these feed contaminants on the intestinal morphology and microbiota composition, and to evaluate whether FBs predispose broilers to necrotic enteritis. One-day-old broiler chicks were divided into a group fed a control diet, and a group fed a FBs contaminated diet (18.6 mg FB1+FB2/kg feed). A significant increase in the plasma sphinganine/sphingosine ratio in the FBs-treated group (0.21 ± 0.016) compared to the control (0.14 ± 0.014) indicated disturbance of the sphingolipid biosynthesis. Furthermore, villus height and crypt depth of the ileum was significantly reduced by FBs. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed a shift in the microbiota composition in the ileum in the FBs group compared to the control. A reduced presence of low-GC containing operational taxonomic units in ileal digesta of birds exposed to FBs was demonstrated, and identified as a reduced abundance of Candidatus Savagella and Lactobaccilus spp. Quantification of total Clostridium perfringens in these ileal samples, previous to experimental infection, using cpa gene (alpha toxin) quantification by qPCR showed an increase in C. perfringens in chickens fed a FBs contaminated diet compared to control (7.5 ± 0.30 versus 6.3 ± 0.24 log10 copies/g intestinal content). After C. perfringens challenge, a higher percentage of birds developed subclinical necrotic enteritis in the group fed a FBs contaminated diet as compared to the control (44.9 ± 2.22% versus 29.8 ± 5.46%).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-015-0234-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Drought stress in sunflower causes inhibition of seed filling due to reduced cell-extension growth

Cultivation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as one of the most important oil crops is of great importance, especially with focus on drought tolerance under the current climate change. Less precipitation and increasing temperatures lead to more regions with drought problems. In a container experiment, with two different sunflower cultivars, drought stress of 40% water-holding capacity was applied at the seed-filling phase and compared to a control group with regular irrigation to 70% water-holding capacity. Four intermediate harvests during the seed-filling phase and a final harvest at maturity were conducted. During the seed-filling phase, sugar and α-amino-acid concentrations of seeds were not reduced by drought stress. Thus, assimilate availability was sufficient, pointing to no source limitation of seed development. The DNA content of the seeds was also not affected and pointed to no limitation of cell division. However, 40 days after flowering a reduction of cell extension was found. Consequently, a sink limitation occurred under drought stress. At final harvest, seed yield was significantly reduced under drought stress due to a lower single seed weight, whereas seed number per plant was unaffected. Oil concentration was not reduced by drought stress. Thus, oil synthesis did not limit oil yield. Consequently, a reduced oil yield under drought stress during the seed-filling phase was caused by a lower seed weight, which resulted from a decreased cell extension.