Stem Tissues Of Plants Research Articles

Exploring the role of the LkABCG36 transporter in lignin accumulation

Lignin is a complex biopolymer formed through the condensation of three monomeric precursors known as monolignols. However, the mechanism underlying lignin precursor transport remains elusive, with uncertainty over whether it occurs through passive diffusion or an active energized process. ATP-binding cassette 36 (ABCG36) plays important roles in abiotic stress resistance. In this study, we investigated the transport functions of LkABCG36 (Larix kaempferi) for lignin precursors and the potential effects of LkABCG36 overexpression in plants. LkABCG36 enhanced the ability of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) bright yellow-2 (BY-2) cells to resist monolignol alcohol stress. Furthermore, LkABCG36 overexpression promoted lignin deposition in tobacco plant stem tissue. To understand the underlying mechanism, we measured the BY-2 cell ability to export lignin monomers and the uptake of monolignol precursors in inside-out (inverted) plasma membrane vesicles. We found that the transport of coniferyl and sinapyl alcohols is an ATP-dependent process. Our data suggest that LkABCG36 contributes to lignin accumulation in tobacco stem tissues through a mechanism involving the active transport of lignin precursors to the cell wall. These findings shed light on the lignin biosynthesis process, with important implications for enhancing lignin deposition in plants, potentially leading to improved stress tolerance and biomass production.

VdTps2 modulates plant colonization and symptom development in Verticillium dahliae.

The trehalose biosynthesis pathway is a potential target for antifungal drugs development. Trehalose phosphate synthase/phosphatase (TPS/TPP) are widely conserved components of trehalose biosynthesis in fungi. However, the role of trehalose biosynthesis in the vascular plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae remains unclear. Here, we investigated the functions of the TPS complex, including VdTps1, VdTps2, and VdTps3 in V. dahliae. Unlike VdTps2, deletion of VdTps1 or VdTps3 did not alter any phenotypes compared with the wild-type strain. In contrast, the ΔVdTps2 strain showed severely depressed radial growth due to the abnormal swelling of the hyphal tips. Further, deletion of VdTps2 increased microsclerotia formation, melanin biosynthesis, and resistance to cell wall perturbation and high-temperature stress. Virulence assays and quantification of fungal biomass revealed that deletion of VdTps2 delayed disease symptom development as evident by the reduced virulence and decreased biomass of the ΔVdTps2 strain in plant stem tissue following inoculation. Additionally, increases in penetration peg formation observed in the ΔVdTps2 strain in the present of H2O2 suggested that VdTps2 suppresses initial colonization. Our results also revealed the role of VdTps2 as a regulator of autophagy. Together, these results indicate that VdTps2 contributes to plant colonization and disease development.

Recent genome resequencing paraded COBRA-Like gene family roles in abiotic stress and wood formation in Poplar.

A cell wall determines the mechanical properties of a cell, serves as a barrier against plant stresses, and allows cell division and growth processes. The COBRA-Like (COBL) gene family encodes a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein that controls cellulose deposition and cell progression in plants by contributing to the microfibril orientation of a cell wall. Despite being studied in different plant species, there is a dearth of the comprehensive global analysis of COBL genes in poplar. Poplar is employed as a model woody plant to study abiotic stresses and biomass production in tree research. Improved genome resequencing has enabled the comprehensive exploration of the evolution and functional capacities of PtrCOBLs (Poplar COBRA-Like genes) in poplar. Phylogeny analysis has discerned and classified PtrCOBLs into two groups resembling the Arabidopsis COBL family, and group I genes possess longer proteins but have fewer exons than group II. Analysis of gene structure and motifs revealed PtrCOBLs maintained a rather stable motif and exon-intron pattern across members of the same group. Synteny and collinearity analyses exhibited that the evolution of the COBL gene family was heavily influenced by gene duplication events. PtrCOBL genes have undergone both segmental duplication and tandem duplication, followed by purifying selection. Promotor analysis flaunted various phytohormone-, growth- and stress-related cis-elements (e.g., MYB, ABA, MeJA, SA, AuxR, and ATBP1). Likewise, 29 Ptr-miRNAs of 20 families were found targeting 11 PtrCOBL genes. PtrCOBLs were found localized at the plasma membrane and extracellular matrix, while gene ontology analysis showed their involvement in plant development, plant growth, stress response, cellulose biosynthesis, and cell wall biogenesis. RNA-seq datasets depicted the bulk of PtrCOBL genes expression being found in plant stem tissues and leaves, rendering mechanical strength and rejoinders to environmental cues. PtrCOBL2, 3, 10, and 11 manifested the highest expression in vasculature and abiotic stress, and resemblant expression trends were upheld by qRT-PCR. Co-expression network analysis identified PtrCOBL2 and PtrCOBL3 as hub genes across all abiotic stresses and wood developing tissues. The current study reports regulating roles of PtrCOBLs in xylem differentiating tissues, tension wood formation, and abiotic stress latency that lay the groundwork for future functional studies of the PtrCOBL genes in poplar breeding.

ANATOMICAL-HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF SOME PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF BILHARZIA IN COTE D'IVOIRE

Objective: The study of 11 plants used in the treatment of Bilharzia in Côte d'Ivoire aims to highlight their anatomical-histological structures. Methods: The anatomical study of these plants was carried out on the stems by the classical method of staining the tissues with carmine-green. Results: This staining technique made it possible to distinguish two groups of tissues. Those with a pink stained cell wall (cellulose wall cells) and those with a green stained lignified cell wall. From the periphery to the interior of the organs, we observe the epidermal hairs, the epidermis, the collenchyma, the cortical parenchyma, the sclerenchyma (for aged or more or less aged tissues), the liber or phloem, the wood or xylem and the medullary parenchyma. Conclusion: The carmine-green staining made it possible to distinguish different plant stem tissues, arranged according to the colouring, structure, shape and size of the cells in each tissue.

Chemical tissue heterogeneity of young Arabidopsis stems revealed by Raman imaging combined with multivariate data analysis

Structural and chemical tissue heterogeneity in plant stems is essential to fulfil the many different functions for growth and survival. Cutting microsection of young developing stems of the model plant Arabidopsis opened the view on vascular bundles (transport of water, nutrients, food, and other chemicals), interfascicular fibers (mechanical support), parenchyma (production, storage) and the epidermis with cuticle (protection, barrier, exchange,..). Mapping such a cross-section with a Confocal Raman microscope resulted in hyperspectral datasets, which are the basis to image chemical heterogeneity with a spatial resolution of 300 nm in context with the microstructure. We generated the images based on three different multivariate approaches: unmixing to find the most pure components, cluster analysis so segment the dataset into clusters with spectral similarity, and fitting the original spectra at every pixel by a linear combination of plant component reference spectra. All three visualized chemical heterogeneity and confirmed in a complementary way the distribution of carbohydrates and aromatic components. The true component analysis was superior to cluster analysis in specificity and added information on lipids and starch distribution. Due to the multicomponent nature of plant tissues no “pure” components were retrieved, wherefore a subsequent mixture analysis (orthogonal matching pursuit) of extracted component spectra with a reference database followed. This led to details on the molecular composition of the spectra and tissues and was essential input for a final reference component fit at every pixel. By the last analysis, different aromatic components and hemicelluloses were discriminated and a similarity of their distribution patterns elucidated. Insights into starch and lipid distribution as well as the aromatic and protein co-location (mixtures) of cell contents were gained. The fit of the latter lumen content was inferior to the other fits due to noisier spectra (higher fluorescence background) and relevant protein and enzyme spectra were missing in our database. The gained comprehensive view on plant stem tissue heterogeneity showed the potential for future studies to unravel plant species characteristics and adaptations, but also to follow plant developmental processes and/or stress responses and/or genetic modifications.

Fungi in ant-plant interactions: a key to enhancing plant nutrient-acquisition strategies.

This article is a Commentary on Gegenbauer et al. (2023), 238: 2210–2223.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Response to Cadmium Stress: Morpho-Physiological Traits and Mineral Concentrations.

Cadmium is a widely distributed heavy metal in agricultural soils that affects plant growth and productivity. In this context, the current study investigated the effects of different cadmium (Cd) doses (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg L-1 of CdSO4) on the growth and physiological attributes of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) including plant height (cm), root length (cm), fresh weight (g) of root, stem, and leaves, leaf number, macro and micro-nutrients, Se, and heavy metal (Cd, Cr, and Pb) content. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with four replicates. The results showed that Cd stress significantly negatively affected all growth indices, macro- and micro-nutrients, and heavy metal content. In addition, it increased the MDA and APX activities. The highest amounts of Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, K, Na, Cd, Cr, and Cu were determined in plant roots, while the highest values of Ca and Mg were detected in plant stem tissues. High Cd doses decreased the content of Ca, K, Mg, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn in safflower plant tissues by 45.47%, 39.33%, 79.28%, 68.21%, 37.06%, 66.67%, 45.62%, 50.38%, 54.37%, 33.33% and 65.87%, respectively, as compared to the control treatments.

Plant stem tissue modeling and parameter identification using metaheuristic optimization algorithms

Bio-impedance non-invasive measurement techniques usage is rapidly increasing in the agriculture industry. These measured impedance variations reflect tacit biochemical and biophysical changes of living and non-living tissues. Bio-impedance circuit modeling is an effective solution used in biology and medicine to fit the measured impedance. This paper proposes two new fractional-order bio-impedance plant stem models. These new models are compared with three commonly used bio-impedance fractional-order circuit models in plant modeling (Cole, Double Cole, and Fractional-order Double-shell). The two proposed models represent the characterization of the biological cellular morphology of the plant stem. Experiments are conducted on two samples of three different medical plant species from the family Lamiaceae, and each sample is measured at two inter-electrode spacing distances. Bio-impedance measurements are done using an electrochemical station (SP150) in the range of 100 Hz to 100 kHz. All employed models are compared by fitting the measured data to verify the efficiency of the proposed models in modeling the plant stem tissue. The proposed models give the best results in all inter-electrode spacing distances. Four different metaheuristic optimization algorithms are used in the fitting process to extract all models parameter and find the best optimization algorithm in the bio-impedance problems.

Genome Comparison Identifies Different Bacillus Species in a Bast Fibre-Retting Bacterial Consortium and Provides Insights into Pectin Degrading Genes

Retting of bast fibres requires removal of pectin, hemicellulose and other non-cellulosic materials from plant stem tissues by a complex microbial community. A microbial retting consortium with high-efficiency pectinolytic bacterial strains is effective in reducing retting-time and enhancing fibre quality. We report comprehensive genomic analyses of three bacterial strains (PJRB 1, 2 and 3) of the consortium and resolve their taxonomic status, genomic features, variations, and pan-genome dynamics. The genome sizes of the strains are ~3.8 Mb with 3729 to 4002 protein-coding genes. Detailed annotations of the protein-coding genes revealed different carbohydrate-degrading CAZy classes viz. PL1, PL9, GH28, CE8, and CE12. Phylogeny and structural features of pectate lyase proteins of PJRB strains divulge their functional uniqueness and evolutionary convergence with closely related Bacillus strains. Genome-wide prediction of genomic variations revealed 12461 to 67381 SNPs, and notably many unique SNPs were localized within the important pectin metabolism genes. The variations in the pectate lyase genes possibly contribute to their specialized pectinolytic function during the retting process. These findings encompass a strong foundation for fundamental and evolutionary studies on this unique microbial degradation of decaying plant material with immense industrial significance. These have preponderant implications in plant biomass research and food industry, and also posit application in the reclamation of water pollution from plant materials.

Plantibacter flavus, Curtobacterium herbarum, Paenibacillus taichungensis, and Rhizobium selenitireducens Endophytes Provide Host-Specific Growth Promotion of Arabidopsis thaliana, Basil, Lettuce, and Bok Choy Plants.

A collection of bacterial endophytes isolated from stem tissues of plants growing in soils highly contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons were screened for plant growth-promoting capabilities. Twenty-seven endophytic isolates significantly improved the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana plants in comparison to that of uninoculated control plants. The five most beneficial isolates, one strain each of Curtobacterium herbarum, Paenibacillus taichungensis, and Rhizobium selenitireducens and two strains of Plantibacter flavus were further examined for growth promotion in Arabidopsis, lettuce, basil, and bok choy plants. Host-specific plant growth promotion was observed when plants were inoculated with the five bacterial strains. P. flavus strain M251 increased the total biomass and total root length of Arabidopsis plants by 4.7 and 5.8 times, respectively, over that of control plants and improved lettuce and basil root growth, while P. flavus strain M259 promoted Arabidopsis shoot and root growth, lettuce and basil root growth, and bok choy shoot growth. A genome comparison between P. flavus strains M251 and M259 showed that both genomes contain up to 70 actinobacterial putative plant-associated genes and genes involved in known plant-beneficial pathways, such as those for auxin and cytokinin biosynthesis and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase production. This study provides evidence of direct plant growth promotion by Plantibacter flavusIMPORTANCE The discovery of new plant growth-promoting bacteria is necessary for the continued development of biofertilizers, which are environmentally friendly and cost-efficient alternatives to conventional chemical fertilizers. Biofertilizer effects on plant growth can be inconsistent due to the complexity of plant-microbe interactions, as the same bacteria can be beneficial to the growth of some plant species and neutral or detrimental to others. We examined a set of bacterial endophytes isolated from plants growing in a unique petroleum-contaminated environment to discover plant growth-promoting bacteria. We show that strains of Plantibacter flavus exhibit strain-specific plant growth-promoting effects on four different plant species.

Reprogrammed endophytic microbial community in maize stalk induced by Trichoderma asperellum biocontrol agent against Fusarium diseases and mycotoxin accumulation

Maize stalk rot and ear rot, caused by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium verticillioides, respectively, are major diseases that threaten the sustainable production of maize. In this study, an artificial inoculation assay demonstrated that the control efficacy of maize stalk rot and ear rot by Trichoderma asperellum granules were 49.83 % and 39.63 %, respectively. By high-throughput sequencing of maize plants, a total of 76 196 ITS1 sequences and 887 226 V3V4 16S rRNA sequences were analyzed and were grouped into 2934 fungal and 24 248 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), respectively. It revealed a significantly higher endophytic microbial abundance in the stem tissue of plants grown in T. asperellum-treated soil than in those grown in the control, with the largest increase observed in the basal stem section. In addition, the endophytic microbial diversity and corresponding control effects all gradually decreased from the basal to apical parts of the stem in plants grown in Trichoderma-treated soil, indicating that Trichoderma stimulated a more significant effect on the defense system in the basal section of the stalk than in the apical parts of plants. Furthermore, the accumulation of deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) decreased in the stem and ear of maize grown in T. asperellum-treated soil.

A multi-omics approach reveals function of Secretory Carrier-Associated Membrane Proteins in wood formation of\u200b \u200b\u200bPopulus\u200b\u200b \u200btrees

BackgroundSecretory Carrier-Associated Membrane Proteins (SCAMPs) are highly conserved 32–38 kDa proteins that are involved in membrane trafficking. A systems approach was taken to elucidate function of SCAMPs in wood formation of Populus trees. Phenotypic and multi-omics analyses were performed in woody tissues of transgenic Populus trees carrying an RNAi construct for Populus tremula x tremuloides SCAMP3 (PttSCAMP3; Potri.019G104000).ResultsThe woody tissues of the transgenic trees displayed increased amounts of both polysaccharides and lignin oligomers, indicating increased deposition of both the carbohydrate and lignin components of the secondary cell walls. This coincided with a tendency towards increased wood density as well as significantly increased thickness of the suberized cork in the transgenic lines. Multivariate OnPLS (orthogonal projections to latent structures) modeling of five different omics datasets (the transcriptome, proteome, GC-MS metabolome, LC-MS metabolome and pyrolysis-GC/MS metabolome) collected from the secondary xylem tissues of the stem revealed systemic variation in the different variables in the transgenic lines, including changes that correlated with the changes in the secondary cell wall composition. The OnPLS model also identified a rather large number of proteins that were more abundant in the transgenic lines than in the wild type. Several of these were related to secretion and/or endocytosis as well as both primary and secondary cell wall biosynthesis.ConclusionsPopulus SCAMP proteins were shown to influence accumulation of secondary cell wall components, including polysaccharides and phenolic compounds, in the woody tissues of Populus tree stems. Our multi-omics analyses combined with the OnPLS modelling suggest that this function is mediated by changes in membrane trafficking to fine-tune the abundance of cell wall precursors and/or proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis and transport. The data provides a multi-level source of information for future studies on the function of the SCAMP proteins in plant stem tissues.

Exploring fungus-plant N transfer in a tripartite ant-plant-fungus mutualism.

The plant Hirtella physophora, the ant Allomerus decemarticulatus and a fungus, Trimmatostroma sp., form a tripartite association. The ants manipulate both the plant trichomes and the fungus to build galleries under the stems of their host plant used to capture prey. In addition to its structural role, the fungus also improves nutrient uptake by the host plant. But it still remains unclear whether the fungus plays an indirect or a direct role in transferring nutrients to the plant. This study aimed to trace the transfer of N from the fungus to the plant's stem tissue. Optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the presence of fungal hyphae in the stem tissues. Then, a 15N-labelling experiment was combined with a nanoscale secondary-ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS 50) isotopic imaging approach to trace the movement of added 15N from the fungus to plant tissues. The TEM images clearly showed hyphae inside the stem tissue in the cellular compartment. Also, fungal hyphae were seen perforating the wall of the parenchyma cell. The 15N provisioning of the fungus in the galleries resulted in significant enrichment of the 15N signature of the plant's leaves 1 d after the 15N-labelling solution was deposited on the fungus-bearing trap. Finally, NanoSIMS imaging proved that nitrogen was transferred biotrophically from the fungus to the stem tissue. This study provides evidence that the fungi are connected endophytically to an ant-plant system and actively transfer nitrogen from 15N-labelling solution to the plant's stem tissues. Overall, this study underlines how complex the trophic structure of ant-plant interactions is due to the presence of the fungus and provides insight into the possibly important nutritional aspects and tradeoffs involved in myrmecophyte-ant mutualisms.

Pathogenicity of Phytophthora isolates originating from several woody hosts in Bulgaria and Poland

Abstract Our aim was to examine the virulence of eight Phytophthora isolates belonging to three species (Phytophthora cryptogea, Phytophthora plurivora and Phytophthora quercina) obtained from diverse European ecosystems (in Bulgaria, Poland and Germany) towards three forest tree hosts – English oak (Quercus robur L.), Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). All plants grown from seeds in a greenhouse conditions were artificially inoculated under the stem bark with Phytophthora cultures. The tested isolates turned to be more aggressive to Turkey oaks than to English oak trees. In case of European beech, the isolates of P. cryptogea and P. plurivora exposed various virulence. The potential hazard of the introduced foreign isolates for the oak and beech forests in Poland and Bulgaria is discussed. Amongst the tested isolates, P. quercina P290 from German highly infected Bulgarian Turkey oaks; therefore, its negative potential impact on Bulgarian oak forests could be considered as high (if unintentionally introduced). Also, two Bulgarian isolates belonging to P. cryptogea and P. plurivora are risky for Polish beech forests, if exposed to the pathogen. The observed pathogenicity of the tested Phytophthora species proved their potential as important contributors to decline of valuable forest ecosystems dominated by oaks (Q. robur and Q. cerris) or beech (F. sylvatica), in both Poland and Bulgaria. We found that investigated Phytophthora pathogens could develop in the living plant stem tissues without causing any disease symptoms, which is another demonstration that phytosanitary control by simple observation of plant material is not effective.

Induction of the Phenylpropanoid Pathway by Acibenzolar-S-Methyl and Potassium Phosphite Increases Mango Resistance to Ceratocystis fimbriata Infection.

This study used both microscopic and biochemical analyses to investigate the possible defense responses induced by acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) and potassium phosphite (Phi) in mango plants inoculated with Ceratocystis fimbriata. Disease development was evaluated in the stems of inoculated mango plants and these were examined using fluorescence and light microscopy. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify secondary metabolites in the stem sections. Spraying the plants with ASM and Phi reduced internal necrosis and disease development. The ASM and Phi induced many microscopic defense responses in the stem tissues against C. fimbriata infection. HPLC analysis revealed that the concentrations of two alkaloids (theobromine and 7-methylxanthine) and 10 phenolic compounds (catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, gallic acid, myricetin, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, phloridzin, sinapinic acid, and salicylhydroxamic acid) were higher in the stem tissues of plants sprayed with ASM or Phi than in inoculated control treatment. The concentrations of phenolic compounds were higher in the stem tissues of inoculated plants than in noninoculated plants, while the inverse was observed for alkaloids. Higher concentrations of secondary metabolites in the stem tissues were detected in the early stages of fungal infection, especially in plants treated with inducers. Taken together, the results from the present study clearly support the concept that the phenylpropanoid pathway in the stem tissues of mango plants infected by C. fimbriata can be induced by ASM and Phi.

Histopathological aspects of mango resistance to the infection process of Ceratocystis fimbriata

Mango wilt, caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata, is one of the most important diseases affecting mango yields in Brazil. Information regarding the infection process of C. fimbriata in the stem tissues of mango from different cultivars and the basis of host resistance to the pathogen is rare in the literature. Thus, the objective of the study was to investigate how infection by two isolates of C. fimbriata can be affected by mango cultivar‐specific mechanisms of resistance. Disease progress on the inoculated stem tissues of the mango cultivars was evaluated and stem sections were obtained from the site of inoculation and prepared for histopathological observations using light microscopy. The factors mango cultivars and C. fimbriata isolates and their interaction were significant for all measures of disease development. Plants from the cultivars Espada, Haden and Palmer inoculated with isolates of C. fimbriata were more susceptible, whereas plants from the cultivars Tommy and Ubá were moderately resistant and resistant, respectively. Histopathologically, fungal isolates apparently massively colonized the stem tissues of plants from the susceptible cultivars Espada, Haden and Palmer, starting from the collenchyma and moving in the direction of the cortical parenchyma, xylem vessels and pith parenchyma. By contrast, on stem tissues of plants from the resistant cultivars Tommy Atkins and Ubá, most of the cells reacted to C. fimbriata infection by accumulating amorphous material. The results from the present study strongly indicated the importance of phenolic compounds for mango cultivar resistance against infection by Brazilian C. fimbriata isolates.

Manipulating Light Intensity and Fall Fertilization to Influence Photosynthesis and Freeze Resistance of Azaleas

On 1 May 2004, a 4 × 2 split-plot experiment was initiated in Athens, Ga., on Rhododendron ×kurume `Pink Pearl'. The four main-plot treatments were low irradiance, low irradiance May–October, low irradiance November–May, and high irradiance (high and low correspond to average daily PPF of 23.6 and 10.4 mol·m-2·d-1). The two subplot fall fertigation treatments were 75 mg·L-1 of nitrogen (N) and 125 mg·L-1 N. Plant stem tissue was harvested monthly from November to March, and analyzed for freeze resistance (LT50). Maximum quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) was analyzed monthly with a Mini-pam photosynthesis yield analyzer. No interactions existed between fertilizer application and light intensity and the 125 mg·L-1 N fertilizer treatment reduced freeze resistance of azalea stems throughout the study. Fall fertilization had no effect on fluorescence and no interactions existed between fertilizer and irradiance treatments. In November, plants that received low irradiance May–October were less freeze-resistant than plants from the high-irradiance treatment. However, in January, plants that received low irradiance throughout the study were more freeze-resistant than plants that received the high-irradiance treatment. In November, Fv/Fm was higher in the low irradiance and low irradiance November–May treatments. In February and March, Fv/Fm was lower in the low May–November treatment that received low irradiance during summer than the low November–May treatment that received low winter irradiance. The use of shade to reduce irradiance may delay the acquisition of freeze resistance in fall. However, shade may reduce photosystem damage and increase a plants ability to acquire and maintain greater freeze resistance.

Colonization ability of Herbaspirillum spp. B501gfp1 in sugarcane, a non-host plant in the presence of indigenous diazotrophic endophytes

Inoculating sugarcane with a mixture of diazotrophic endophytic bacteria has shown that they can provide substantial amount of biologically fixed nitrogen to the plant. The genera of diazotrophic endophytes previously isolated from sugarcane have been reported associating with other nonleguminous plants showing a broad host range. This study examined the colonization ability of a wild rice isolate, Herbaspirillum spp., in sugarcane plants in the presence of indigenous endophytes using two inoculum concentrations (102 and 108 bacterial cells ml-1). Internal tissue colonization was observed in plants inoculated with both the 102 and 108 B501gfp1 bacterial cells ml-1 inoculum concentrations. However, extensive colonization and higher bacterial numbers were determined only in the basal stem tissues of plants inoculated with the 108 bacterial cells ml-1.

Effect of Fall Fertilization on Freeze Hardiness of Deciduous versus Evergreen Azaleas

This experiment compared the effect of fall fertilization on freeze hardiness of evergreen vs. deciduous azaleas (Rhododendron). Beginning in Spring 2003, a 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted in Athens, Ga., on container plants grown outdoors under nursery conditions involving two taxa (R. canescens and R. ×satsuki `Wakaebisu') and three fall fertigation regimes (Aug.–Sept., 75 mg·L-1 of N; Aug.–Nov., 75 mg·L-1 of N; and Aug.–Nov., 125 mg·L-1 of N). On 15 Nov. and 17 Dec. 2003 and 16 Jan., 18 Feb., and 19 Mar. 2004, plant stem tissue was harvested and exposed to 10 progressively lower temperature intervals between –3 °C and –30 °C under laboratory conditions in order to estimate azalea freeze hardiness. Freeze hardiness was affected by fertilizer and taxa treatments, but there were no significant interaction effects in this study. The timing of freeze hardening was not significantly different among the two species over time, and the fall fertilizer treatments did not affect the timing of hardening. Compared to the industry standard (75 mg·L-1 of N, Aug.–Sept.), R. canescens that received extended fertilization at the high rate (125 mg·L-1 of N, Aug.–Nov.) was less freeze hardy in November, December, and January, and R. ×satsuki was less freeze hardy in December. However, when compared to the industry standard, the low rate of extended fertilization (75 mg·L-1 of N, Aug.–Nov.) did not affect azalea freeze hardiness.

Detection of Tumorigenic Rhizobia in Asymptomatic Peach Plants by PCR.

At present the only method for the detection of Rhizobium radiobacter and R. rhizogenes (ex Agrobacterium tumefaciens) in plants is by isolating the bacteria on selective medium and testing them in vivo for pathogenicity. This procedure is time-consuming and not appropriate for detecting low concentrations of these agrobacteria. In this study a protocol was developed for detecting tumorigenic agrobacteria in the stem and root tissues of artificially inoculated peach plants. DNA was extracted from the plant tissues by a rapid procedure and then a 246 bp sequence of the vir region of the pTi was amplified by PCR. The target sequence was found in all stem and root samples of asymptomatic peach plants, and was evidenced in all the samples analyzed showing the effectiveness and reliability of the method.