Spinacia Oleracea Plants Research Articles

Modulations of functional traits of Spinacia oleracea plants exposed to cadmium stress by using H2S as an antidote: a regulatory mechanism.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01389-3.

Comparative study of the insecticidal activity of a high green plant (Spinacia oleracea) and a chlorophytae algae (Ulva lactuca) extracts against Drosophila melanogaster fruit fly

Currently, the global interests tend to take advantage of the plant world as a renewable source of a natural and effective molecule, to find an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and less toxic alternative to the current synthetic pesticide. In this context, the present research was carried out in an attempt to study the insecticidal activity of extracts and pigments derived from the green plant Spinacia oleracea and the green alga Ulva lactuca against the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as an alternative to chemical insecticide. The toxicity of the aqueous, acetonic and ethanolic extracts as well as of the purified pigments (Chlorophylls and carotenoids) was determined by complementary in vivo tests (application by spraying oranges, toxicity by ingestion and repellent activity). Interestingly, each one of these methods corresponds to a specific mode of exposure. Results showed that acetone extracts, which are rich in green pigments, present the best insecticidal activities. On the other hand, the purified chlorophyllian pigments exhibited an interesting activity only by spraying method. Regarding the repellent activity, the aqueous extract of spinach displayed higher effectiveness. Our study suggests the potential of tested plant and algal extracts, as well as of chlorophyllian pigments, to provide a safer alternative way to the use of synthetic pesticides.

Assessment of chromium species dynamics in root solutions using isotope tracers

BackgroundChromium (Cr) exists in the environment in two chemical forms; CrIII is an essential micronutrient for glucose and lipid metabolism, whereas CrVI is toxic and a recognised carcinogen through inhalation. Numerous studies have attempted to evaluate their transfer mechanisms from soil and solution media into plants, usually with respect to the hyperaccumulation, detoxification and tolerance of the plant to CrVI. MethodsIsotopically enriched species of Cr, added as 50CrIII and 53CrVI, were used to investigate transfer from solution into the root systems of Spinacia oleracea. In addition the effect of sulphate (SO42−), as a competitor for CrVI uptake, was investigated. Separation of 50CrIII and 53CrVI was undertaken using HPLC-ICP-QQQ following isolation of root solutions using freeze/thaw centrifugation. ResultsIrrespective of supplied CrVI concentration (250, 500 or 1000 μg L−1), the dominant species in both apoplastic (routed through cell wall and intercellular space as a passive mechanism) and symplastic (routed through cytoplasm as an active mechanism) root solutions was CrIII. There was evidence for CrVI reduction in the rhizosphere prior to uptake as an additional detoxification mechanism. Sulphate promoted uptake of CrVI through the active pathway, although increases in SO42- concentration did not yield a proportional increase in Cr symplastic solution concentration; CrIII was also the dominant species in these root solutions. ConclusionThe results indicate that Spinacia oleracea plants can effectively reduce CrVI to CrIII and that the uptake pathways for both CrIII and CrVI are more complex than previously reported. Further work is required to understand the physiological processes that result in the reduction of CrVI prior to, and during, uptake. The efficacy of sulphate to augment existing agricultural management strategies, such as liming and organic reincorporation, also requires further investigation to establish suitable application rates and applicability to other environmental contaminants.

The reflection of the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles on photosynthetic activity of spinacia oleracea plants

The reflection of the photocatalytic properties of TiO2 nanoparticles on photosynthetic activity of spinacia oleracea plants

Growing spinach (Spinacia oleracea) with different seawater concentrations: Effects on fresh, boiled and steamed leaves

Agriculture is the human activity requiring the higher amount of freshwater. Nevertheless, water availability is already an issue in many regions of the world, suggesting the need of alternative water sources to face the increasing food demand. Spinacia oleracea plants have been cultivated in a floating hydroponic system where nutrient solution was integrated with 10% and 20% of seawater. Plant growth was monitored during the experiment together with morphological adaptations at the shoot level. At the end of the crop cycle, leaves were collected and processed with the two most common cooking processes such as boiling and steaming. Raw, boiled and steamed leaves were then analyzed to determine their sodium and potassium concentrations, the total phenolic content and the nitrates concentration. Our results showed that the use of seawater in the hydroponic spinach cultivation determined positive effects on growth parameters, with an increased relative growth rate assessed for both seawater treatments compared to the control. Leaves morphological adaptations were assessed only in 20% seawater treated plants (i.e. reduced leaf water content, leaf area and specific leaf area; increased specific leaf weight and leaf succulence), whereas the moderate seawater treatment did not lead to any difference compared to the control. Seawater treatments significantly increased sodium content in leaves, which could be consumed without adding any salt. Potassium was not affected by salinity treatments, whereas both total phenolic content and nitrates decreased accordingly with increasing salinity Concerning the cooking processes, steaming proved to be a better cooking method compared to boiling with the aim of preserving the nutritional values of spinach leaves. In conclusion, our results suggest that the use of a certain level of seawater in the spinach cultivation is a practical possibility to be explored in the direction of saving freshwater and increasing crop production enhancing the quality and taste of vegetables.

Chloroplast-selective gene delivery and expression in planta using chitosan-complexed single-walled carbon nanotube carriers.

Plant genetic engineering is an important tool used in current efforts in crop improvement, pharmaceutical product biosynthesis and sustainable agriculture. However, conventional genetic engineering techniques target the nuclear genome, prompting concerns about the proliferation of foreign genes to weedy relatives. Chloroplast transformation does not have this limitation, since the plastid genome is maternally inherited in most plants, motivating the need for organelle-specific and selective nanocarriers. Here, we rationally designed chitosan-complexed single-walled carbon nanotubes, utilizing the lipid exchange envelope penetration mechanism. The single-walled carbon nanotubes selectively deliver plasmid DNA to chloroplasts of different plant species without external biolistic or chemical aid. We demonstrate chloroplast-targeted transgene delivery and transient expression in mature Eruca sativa, Nasturtium officinale, Nicotiana tabacum and Spinacia oleracea plants and in isolated Arabidopsis thaliana mesophyll protoplasts. This nanoparticle-mediated chloroplast transgene delivery tool provides practical advantages over current delivery techniques as a potential transformation method for mature plants to benefit plant bioengineering and biological studies.

The insects as an assessment tool of ecotoxicology associated with metal toxic plants

In this article, the assessment of lethal effects of Copper (Cu) on Luffa acutangula and Spinacia oleracea plants investigated in relation to the presence of insect species Oxycarenus hyalinipennis. The analysis of Cu-treated plants displays the information of rapid growth of Oxycarenus hyalinipennis species in triplicate. However, results showed that the impact of metal toxicity appeared as the reduced growth rate of plants, and dense growth of the insect species Oxycarenus halinipennis followed by the chewing/degradation of the toxic plant. The insect's inductees into polluted plants were justified by morphological and primary molecular level using plant stress hypothesis through analysis of the primary chemistry of leaves and roots. That includes various sugar contents which substantiated that these compounds act as the best feeding stimulant from oviposition to adult stage of the insects and accountable for the enactment of insects in the toxic plants. The relationship of these insects to the toxic plants linked with the higher contents of glucose, carbohydrates, and cellulose. The higher carbohydrate and cellulose content in both plants species under Cu accumulation exhibited more signs of insect mutilation over control plants and the lack of chemical resistances allowed the adult insects to spread, survive, reproduce and live long. The presence of insects developed relationships that assimilate all developmental, biological, and the interactive toxicity of Cu in both plant species which indicate the risk associated with these plants.

The deep red state of photosystem II in Cyanidioschyzon merolae

We identified and characterised the deep red state (DRS), an optically-absorbing charge transfer state of PSII, which lies at lower energy than P680, in the red algae Cyanidioschyzon merolae by means of low temperature absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopies. The photoactive DRS has been previously studied in PSII of the higher plant Spinacia oleracea, and in the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus vulcanus. We found the DRS in PSII of C. merolae has similar spectral properties. Treatment of PSII with dithionite leads to reduction of cytochrome (cyt) b559 and the PsbV-based cyt c550 as well as the disassembly of the oxygen-evolving complex. Whereas the overall visible absorption spectrum of PSII was little affected, the DRS absorption in the reduced sample was no longer seen. This bleaching of the DRS is discussed in terms of a corresponding lack of a DRS feature in D1D2/cyt b559 reaction centre preparations of PSII.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) modulates its proteome differentially in response to salinity, cadmium and their combination stress

Cadmium (Cd) contamination and salinity are common stressors in agricultural soils all over the globe. Sensitivity and modulation of plant proteome lead to proper signal execution and adaptation to abiotic stress via molecular responses, which strengthen plant defence system. A comparative proteomic study, employing 2DE-MALDI TOF/TOF MS, of Spinacia oleracea plants exposed to cadmium (50 μg CdCl2 g−1 soil), salinity (10 mg NaCl g−1 soil) and their combination (NaCl + Cd) was conducted to understand the minimum common adaptation to multiple stress. Analysis of 2D gel maps showed significant increase and decrease in relative abundance of 14 and 39 proteins by Cd; 11 and 46 by salinity and 22 and 37 by combined stress of Cd and salinity, respectively. Peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) helped in the identification of maturase K and PPD4 with increased relative abundance under all stresses; whereas salinity stress and combination stress silenced the presence of one protein (polycomb protein EZ2) and two proteins (cellulose synthase-like protein and ubiquitin conjugation factor E4), respectively. The identified proteins were functionally associated with signal transduction (15%), protein synthesis (16%), stress response and defence (33%), photosynthesis (13%), plant growth/cell division (9%), energy generation (4%), transport (4%), secondary metabolism (3%), and cell death (3%); clearly indicating the importance and necessity of keeping a higher ratio of defence and disease-responsive proteins. The results suggest that plant may increase the abundance of defence proteins and may also lower the abundance of catabolic proteins. Proteins with altered ratios of abundance belonged to different functional categories, suggesting that plants have differential mechanisms to respond to Cd, salinity, and their combined stress, but with unique sets of proteins.

Evaluation of Green Synthesis of Ag Nanoparticles Using Eruca sativa and Spinacia oleracea Leaf Extracts and Their Antimicrobial Activity

Background: Nano-biotechnology is considered as one of the mainly vigorous field of research in new material science. Recently, biosynthetic methods employing both biological microorganisms such as bacteria and fungus or plants extract have developed speedily as a trouble-free and feasible choice to obtain nanomaterials alternative to more complex chemical synthetic procedures. The particular distinctiveness like size, allocation and shape give the nanoparticles different properties from the bulk material. Objectives: Eruca sativa and Spinacia oleracea plants were used to evaluate their extra cellular potential synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their bactericidal impact on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Materials and Methods: Aqueous solutions of AgNO3 are mixed with plant extracts. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to characterize the morphology of the nanoparticles obtained from plant extracts. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometer established the existence of elemental sign of the silver and homogenous allocation of silver nanoparticles. Diffraction by using X ray (XRD) analysis for the formed AgNPs revealed spherical plus cubical shapes structure with different planes ranged between 111 to 311 planes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to characterize the morphology of the nanoparticles obtained from plant extracts. Results: The antibacterial action of AgNPs against human pathogens, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recognized. Our work showed a rapid, eco-safety and suitable method for the synthesis of AgNPs from Eruca sativa and Spinacia oleracea leaf extract and can be used in pharmaceutical and other biomedical applications. Conclusions: It could be suggested that AgNPs showed effective antibacterial properties owing to their exceptionally big exterior region, which provides superior contact with microorganisms and its interactions with bacteria are and localized on the membrane of the organism.

70. Endogenous plant hormones in dioecious plant Spinacia oleracea

70. Endogenous plant hormones in dioecious plant Spinacia oleracea

Size Determination of Cyanobacterial and Higher Plant Photosystem II by Gel Permeation Chromatography, Light Scattering, and Ultracentrifugation

The oxygen-evolving photosystem II core complexes (PSIIcc) from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus (PSIIccTe) and the higher plant Spinacia oleracea (PSIIccSo) have been isolated from the thylakoid membrane by solubilization with n-dodecyl-beta-d-maltoside, purified and characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC). DLS suggests that PSIIcc from both organisms exists as a monomer in dilute solution and aggregates with increasing protein concentration. In contrast to DLS, GPC and AUC showed that PSIIcc of both organisms occur as monomers and dimers, and it became clear from our studies that calibration of GPC columns with soluble proteins leads to wrong estimates of the molecular masses of membrane proteins. At a PSIIcc protein concentration of 0.2 mg/mL, molar masses, M, of 756 +/- 18 kDa and 710 +/- 15 kDa for dimeric PSIIccTe and PSIIccSo, respectively, were determined by analytical ultracentrifugation. At very low protein concentrations, at or below 0.05 mg/mL, the dimeric form of PSIIccTe partially dissociates (20-30%) to form monomers. On the basis of these studies 3-dimensional crystals of PSIIccTe were obtained that contain dimers in the asymmetric unit [Zouni, A. et al. (2001) Nature 409, 739-743]. Using synchrotron radiation the crystals diffract to a resolution of 3.8 A, which has been improved recently to 3.2 A [Biesiadka, J., et al. (2004) Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 6, 4733-4736].

Oscillations in photosynthetic carbon assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence are different in Amaranthus caudatus, a C4 plant, and Spinacia oleracea, a C3 plant

The characteristics of oscillations in photosynthetic carbon fixation and chlorophyll fluorescence in leaves of the C4 plant Amaranthus caudatus L. were compared to those shown by the C3 plant Spinacia oleracea L. As in spinach, oscillations could be observed in Amaranthus when leaves were illuminated after periods of darkening, particularly at temperatures below 20°C, less so or not at all at higher temperatures. However, in contrast to spinach, pronounced oscillations occurred in Amaranthus after a sudden dark/light transition only at low, not at high photon flux densities. Whereas in spinach maxima in carbon uptake were observed slightly after minima in chlorophyll fluorescence had occurred, in Amaranthus maxima in carbon uptake were close to maxima in chlorophyll fluorescence. Since the quantum efficiency of electron transport through photosystem II of the chloroplast electron-transport chain was higher during the minima of chlorophyll fluorescence than during the maxima, the observations suggest that in Amaranthus photosynthetic water oxidation did not occur as synchronously with carbon uptake as in spinach. It is proposed that, in contrast to spinach, photosynthetic oscillations in Amaranthus are related to the diffusional transport of photosynthetic intermediates between mesophyll and bundle-sheath cells.

Quaternary Structure of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase from CAM-C4- and C3-Plants - No Evidence for Diurnal Changes in Oligomeric State

Summary Day and night forms of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.31) were extracted from leaves of the inducible CAM plant Mesembryanthemum crystallinum, from the obligate CAM plant Crassula spec., the C4 plant Zea mays and the C3 plant Spinacia oleracea. In induced (salt stressed) M crystallinum and in Crassula spec. the day form of the enzyme showed higher sensitivity to inhibition by malate than the night form. The enzyme from Z. mays showed higher sensitivity when it was extracted during the dark period. In contrast, the enzyme extracted from non-induced (unstressed) M. crystallinum and S. oleracea showed no changes in malate sensitivity during a diurnal cycle. Desalted crude extracts were subjected to high-performance size exclusion liquid chromatography. PEPC activity in the absence and in the presence of malate and PEPC protein (measured immunochemically) were monitored after extraction and gel filtration. The fractionated enzyme still displayed the same characteristic pattern of sensitivity to inhibition by malate that could be measured in desalted crude extracts, indicating high stability of the kinetic properties during gel filtration. In all species investigated, the day and the night forms of the enzyme were found to be in the same aggregation state. The apparent molecular weights of the native enzymes and of the enzyme subunits from M. crystallinum (C3 and CAM), Z. mays and S. oleracea indicated a tetrameric aggregation state, while PEPC from Crassula spec. was found to be dimeric. These results suggest that contrary to earlier reports on PEPC from Crassula argentea, reversible dissociation/ association is not the mechanism that regulates the day/night and light/dark transitions in the kinetic properties of PEPC from CAM- and C4 plants, respectively.

Purification and initial characterization of the proteasome from the higher plant Spinacia oleracea.

The proteasome (multicatalytic protease complex), a high molecular weight protein complex, has been purified from spinach leaves by successive chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Bio-Gel A-1.5m, DEAE-TOYOPEARL 650C, and DEAE-5PW. The molecular mass was estimated to be 850 kDa by gel filtration. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the proteasome gave a single protein band under nondenaturing conditions and at least 10 bands in the range of 21-32 kDa in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. By electron microscopy after negative staining with uranyl acetate, the proteasome from spinach appeared as symmetrical ring-shaped particles. The substrate specificity of proteasomes indicates that they contain at least three types of activity, namely, chymotrypsin-like, Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease-like, and trypsin-like activities. The former two activities were enhanced by poly-L-lysine or sodium dodecyl sulfate. Moreover, we examined the immunological reactivities of proteasomes from various eukaryotes. As a result, cross-immunoreactivities of some subunits were observed. These properties of the proteasome are similar to those of proteasomes isolated from various other eukaryotic sources.

Sterols and Plasmalemma Modifications in Spinach Apex during Transition to Flowering

Plasmalemma thickness was determined in the shoot apex of the long day plant Spinacia oleracea during transition to flowering. This membrane was shown to become thicker a few hours following the extension of the light period. In plants submitted to 24 h of continuous light, the plasmalemma was 10 to 15 thicker than in cells from vegetative plants maintained in short days. After the extension of the light period the numerical density of particles exposed on the extracellular and protoplasmic fracture faces of the plasmalemma remains unchanged. The total sterol content of the apex was analysed in parallel and showed a net increase during transition to flowering. This change was observed at approximately the time of the plasmalemma thickening during the critical photoperiod. The results strengthen the suggestion that changes in plasmalemma might play an important role in the establishment of the floral state of the whole plant.

Biosynthesis and Desaturation of Prokaryotic Galactolipids in Leaves and Isolated Chloroplasts from Spinach

Mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG and DGDG) were isolated from the leaves of sixteen 16:3 plants. In all of these plant species, the sn-2 position of MGDG was more enriched in C(16) fatty acids than sn-2 of DGDG. The molar ratios of prokaryotic MGDG to prokaryotic DGDG ranged from 4 to 10. This suggests that 16:3 plants synthesize more prokaryotic MGDG than prokaryotic DGDG. In the 16:3 plant Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach), the formation of prokaryotic galactolipids was studied both in vivo and in vitro. In intact spinach leaves as well as in chloroplasts isolated from these leaves, radioactivity from [1-(14)C]acetate accumulated 10 times faster in MGDG than in DGDG. After 2 hours of incorporation, most labeled galactolipids from leaves and all labeled galactolipids from isolated chloroplasts were in the prokaryotic configuration. Both in vivo and in vitro, the desaturation of labeled palmitate and oleate to trienoic fatty acids was higher in MGDG than in DGDG. In leaves, palmitate at the sn-2 position was desaturated in MGDG but not in DGDG. In isolated chloroplasts, palmitate at sn-2 similarly was desaturated only in MGDG, but palmitate and oleate at the sn-1 position were desaturated in MGDG as well as in DGDG. Apparently, palmitate desaturase reacts with sn-1 palmitate in either galactolipid, but does not react with the sn-2 fatty acid of DGDG. These results demonstrate that isolated spinach chloroplasts can synthesize and desaturate prokaryotic MGDG and DGDG. The finally accumulating molecular species, MGDG(18:3/16:3) and DGDG(18:3/16:0), are made by the chloroplasts in proportions similar to those found in leaves.

Distribution of phenmedipham and other biscarbamates inside leaf fragments of Chenopodium album and Spinacia oleracea plants

We attempt to clarify the distribution of herbicides in the apoplastic and symplastic parts of the mesophyll in the case of a photosynthesis inhibitor generally applied to foliage for agronomic purpose. Two methods were set out: first, penetration of phenmedipham without cuticular limitation was obtained in leaf fragments of standard size by vacuum treatment; secondly we carried out a determination of the inhibition of the photosynthesis rate in leaf fragments for which inhibition percentage was complete

Effects of plant growth regulators on Hill activity of submerged aquatic plants during induced senescence

Effects of plant growth regulators on Hill activity during induced senescence of leaves of three submerged aquatic plants Vallisneria spiralis L., Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle and Potamogeton pectinatus L., and a terrestrial plant Spinacia oleracea L. were studied. Hill activity was reduced by 39.3, 42.7, 45.2 and 245.1 μmol DCIP (2,6-dichloroindophenol) (mg chl) −1h −1 in Vallisneria, Hydrilla, Potamogeton and Spinacia, respectively. During induced senescence of isolated mature leaves, Hill activity declined with increasing incubation time in all species. Kinetin (0.23 mM) treatment reduced the loss of Hill activity; while both 0.69 mM ehthrel and 0.075 mM ABA treatments decreased it in each species. The effect of kinetin was greatest in Spinacia, followed by Potamogeton, Hydrilla and Vallisneria, while the effect of either ethrel or ABA or both was greatest in Potamogeton, followed by Spinacia, Vallisneria and Hydrilla. Kinetin pre-treatment for an optimal period (12 h) followed by treatment with either ethrel or ABA partially removed the inhibitory effect of the latter on Hill activity. Pre-treatment of tissues with either ethrel or ABA solution, restricted to 12 h, followed by kinetin treatment markedly reduced the promotive effect of kinetin on the Hill activity of these species.

Pyridine nucleotides and redox-charge evolution during the induction of flowering in spinach leaves

In the long-day plant Spinacia oleracea changes in the pool size of pyridine nucleotides have been followed under different photoperiodic conditions. In short days (vegetative state), the dark and light phases of the cycle are characterized by specific reciprocal changes in NAD and NADP pool sizes. As a consequence, the ratios of NADH/NAD+NADH and NADPH/NADP+NADPH, which are respectively considered to represent the catabolic and anabolic state of metabolism, also show a characteristic pattern. Upon transfer to continuous light, i.e. during floral induction, a decrease in anabolic metabolism is paralleled by an increase in catabolic metabolism. In the floral state, both the catabolic and the anabolic couples of the pyridine nucleotides are considerably depressed, possibly reflecting the enhanced senescence of induced leaves. The results are discussed in relation to the involvment of the nucleotides in stoichiometric coupling of metabolic compartments at the cellular level in response to environmental signals.