Vital Processes In Plants Research Articles

Xanthophyll esterases in association with fibrillins control the stable storage of carotenoids in yellow flowers of rapeseed (Brassica juncea).

Biosynthesis, stabilization, and storage of carotenoids are vital processes in plants that collectively contribute to the vibrant colors observed in flowers and fruits. Despite its importance, the carotenoid storage pathway remains poorly understood and lacks thorough characterization. We identified two homologous genes, BjA02.PC1 and BjB04.PC2, belonging to the esterase/lipase/thioesterase (ELT) family of acyltransferases. We showed that BjPCs in association with fibrillin gene BjFBN1b control the stable storage of carotenoids in yellow flowers of Brassica juncea. Through genetic, high-resolution mass spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy analyses, we demonstrated that both BjA02.PC1 and BjB04.PC2 can promote the accumulation of esterified xanthophylls, facilitating the formation of carotenoid-enriched plastoglobules (PGs) and ultimately producing yellow pigments in flowers. The elimination of BjPCs led to the redirection of metabolic flux from xanthophyll ester biosynthesis to lipid biosynthesis, resulting in white flowers for B. juncea. Moreover, we genetically verified the function of two fibrillin genes, BjA01.FBN1b and BjB05.FBN1b, in mediating PG formation and demonstrated that xanthophyll esters must be deposited in PGs for stable storage. These findings identified a previously unknown carotenoid storage pathway that is regulated by BjPCs and BjFBN1b, while offering unique opportunities for improving the stability, deposition, and bioavailability of carotenoids.

Режимы орошения перца сладкого

Purpose: to study the features of irrigation regimes and their impact on the yield of sweet pepper based on the analysis of scientific sources of information. Discussion. Sweet pepper is a moisture-loving crop. For its normal growth and development, optimal soil moisture is required. Plants experience a special need for moisture when planting seedlings, flowering, as well as during fruit set and formation. Since sweet pepper crops are located in southern regions with a moisture deficit, irrigation acts as a guarantor of obtaining the planned yield of this crop. The main elements of the irrigation regime are irrigation, irrigation norms, the number of irrigations, the timing of their implementation to maintain a given level of soil moisture during crop cultivation. Modern irrigation regimes for sweet pepper have been developed both for conditions of full provision of water resources and for conditions of their deficiency. Under conditions of full water supply, maximum productivity and product quality indicators, more efficient use of irrigation water are ensured by drip irrigation mode with maintaining the pre-irrigation moisture threshold of the calculated soil layer at least 70–80 % of the lowest moisture capacity during the growing season. In differentiated irrigation regimes, higher values of pre-irrigation soil moisture thresholds are maintained in the first half of the growing season, when it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the rooting of seedlings, growth and development of plants. However, during this period the size of the calculated soil layer is reduced. By the stage of technical ripeness and until the end of fruit harvesting, soil moisture thresholds are reduced to 70–75 % of the lowest moisture capacity, but the moistened layer is increased. Conclusions. Optimal irrigation regimes make it possible to maintain the vital processes of plants and obtain the planned productivity even in dry conditions. The combination of irrigation modes with other elements of the technological process (mulching, fertilizing, etc.) increases the productivity of sweet pepper by 15–20 %.

Salt-Induced Changes in Cytosolic pH and Photosynthesis in Tobacco and Potato Leaves.

Salinity is one of the most common factors limiting the productivity of crops. The damaging effect of salt stress on many vital plant processes is mediated, on the one hand, by the osmotic stress caused by large concentrations of Na+ and Cl- outside the root and, on the other hand, by the toxic effect of these ions loaded in the cell. In our work, the influence of salinity on the changes in photosynthesis, transpiration, water content and cytosolic pH in the leaves of two important crops of the Solanaceae family-tobacco and potato-was investigated. Salinity caused a decrease in photosynthesis activity, which manifested as a decrease in the quantum yield of photosystem II and an increase in non-photochemical quenching. Along with photosynthesis limitation, there was a slight reduction in the relative water content in the leaves and a decrease in transpiration, determined by the crop water stress index. Furthermore, a decrease in cytosolic pH was detected in tobacco and potato plants transformed by the gene of pH-sensitive protein Pt-GFP. The potential mechanisms of the salinity influence on the activity of photosynthesis were analyzed with the comparison of the parameters' dynamics, as well as the salt content in the leaves.

INFLUENCE OF FOLIAR MINERAL NUTRITION ON BIOMETRIC PARAMETERS OF HOME PLUM VARIETIES IN HYPERARID CONDITIONS OF THE NORTHERN CASPIAN REGION

An important factor of horticulture intensification in all areas of fruit crops is a balanced mineral nutrition, which includes both introduction of main elements of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, and foliar dressing with macro- and microelements. This is especially vital for plums which is characterized by a high removal of nutrients, particularly, potassium and calcium. The article presents results of the influence of foliar mineral nutrition on home plum varieties to justify for usageon light chestnut soils in the Northern Caspian region under arid conditions. The purpose of the research was to study the effect of foliar dressing with macro- and microfertilizers on biometric parameters (increase ofbole circumference, extension shoots, seed-bud preservation) of plum varieties on light chestnut soils of Astrakhan region. The study was carried out at the experimental site of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Caspian Agrarian Federal Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences". The experimental plot was laid in 2014. Records and observations were carried out in 2019-2021. The research material includedBogatyrskaya, Volgogradskaya, Zainap plum varieties and foliar feeding with Master 18:18:18, Aquarin, Ultramag boron and Ultramag calcium. As a result of the research, it was found that intensification of vital processes of plants can be traced by increase of the bole circumference, the length of annual shoots, seed-bud preservation, which ultimately has a positive effect on yieldincrease. As far as foliar dressing in various phases of plumdevelopment is concerned, top dressing with Aquarinin combination with Ultramag boron and Ultramag calcium is the most effective.

Repurposing of Marine Raw Materials in the Formulation of Innovative Plant Protection Products.

Over the years, the growth of the world population has caused a huge agricultural production to support the population's needs. Since plant protection products are essential to preserve agricultural crops and to optimize vital plant processes, it is crucial to use more sustainable, biodegradable, and biocompatible raw materials, without harming the environment and human health. Although the development of new plant protection products is a costly process, the environmental benefits should be considered. In this context, marine raw materials obtained as byproducts of fishing industries, possessing a wide variety of physicochemical and biological properties, can serve as a promising source of such materials. They have a high potential for developing alternative and safe formulations for agricultural applications, not only as biocompatible excipients but also as effective and selective, or even both. It is also possible to promote a synergistic effect between an active substance and the biological activity of the marine polymer used in the formulation, enabling plant protection products with lower concentrations of the active substances. Thus, this review addresses the repurposing of marine raw materials for the development of innovative plant protection products, focusing on micro- and nanoparticulate formulations, to protect the environment through more ecological and sustainable strategies.

Pseudomonas mediated nutritional and growth promotional activities for sustainable food security.

Numerous microbial communities show synergistic and antagonistic interactions among themselves, resulting in benefit and harm to either or both the associated members. The association holds accountability for nutrients recycling and energy drift, resulting in the availability of macronutrients unavailable and insoluble forms of rhizospheric nutrients, crucial for vital processes in plants, e.g., act as co-factors of various phyto-enzyme and redox mediators. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria are known to enhance plant growth by increasing these macronutrients availability during their plant root colonization. In comparison to any other genera, Pseudomonas is the most favored bioinoculant due to its significant properties in both plant growth and phytopathogen control during its synergistic association with the host plant. These properties include siderophore production, phosphate solubilization, nitrogen fixation, phenazines, antibiotics, and induced systemic resistance carried out by various Pseudomonas species like Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, and Pseudomonas syringae. The association of Pseudomonas with crop plants procures several secretory and electron-based feedback mechanisms in order to regulate the plant growth and phytopathogen control activities through the secretion of several phytohormones (auxins, gibberellins, Indole-3-acetic acid), secondary metabolites (flavonoids) and enzymes (aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase). Ecologically significant applications of Pseudomonas in biocontrol and bioaugmentation are crucial for maintaining food security.

Chitosan-selenium nanoparticles (Cs–Se NPs) modulate the photosynthesis parameters, antioxidant enzymes activities and essential oils in Dracocephalum moldavica L. under cadmium toxicity stress

In view of damaging impacts of cadmium (Cd) toxicity on various vital processes of plants and strategies for alleviating these effects, selenium (Se) application has been recently achieved great attention. In addition, chitosan (CS) and its nano-form, besides many positive effects on plants, could be considered as an excellent adsorption matrix and a carrier for a wide range of materials like Se with various applications in agricultural sector. For that point, the combination nano-form of Se and CS (CS–Se NPs), using CS as a carrier and control releaser for Se, could enhance Se efficiency particularly at lower doses under stress conditions. Therefore, Se (10 mg L−1), CS (0.1%) and CS-Se NPs (in two concentrations; 5 and 10 mg L−1) were applied on Moldavian balm plant under 0, 2.5 and 5 mg kg−1 Cd-stress conditions. The results demonstrated that mostly Se and CS-Se NPs treatments could lessen negative effects of Cd-stress conditions through enhancing agronomic traits, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and SPAD, proline, phenols, antioxidant enzymes activities and some dominant constituents of essential oils and decreasing MDA and H2O2. These encouraging impacts were more significant at lower dose of CS-Se NPs (5 mg L−1) introducing it as the best treatment to ameliorate Moldavian balm performance under Cd-stress conditions. In conclusion, CS-Se NPs could be considered as a supportive approach in plant production mainly under different heavy metal stressful conditions and probably a potential plant growth promoting and stress protecting agent with new outlooks for applying in agricultural sector.

Glycine betaine functionalized graphene oxide as a new engineering nanoparticle lessens salt stress impacts in sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Regarding destructive impacts of salinity on different vital processes of plants, many strategies have been developed to alleviate salinity effects. Amongst, nanoparticles (NPs) application has been achieved great attention. For that point, considering positive effects of graphene oxide NPs (GO) and glycine betaine (GB) on different plant processes, GO-GB NPs were primarily synthesized to use GO as a carrier for GB. Then, GO, GB and GO-GB (each in three concentrations; 0, 50 and 100 mg L−1) were applied on sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants under 0, 50 and 100 mM salinity stress conditions. The results demonstrated that GO-GB NPs could lessen negative effects of salinity by enhancing agronomic traits, photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, membrane stability index (MSI), proline, phenols, antioxidant enzymes activities and dominant constituents of essential oils and decreasing MDA and H2O2. These positive effects were more considerable at its lower dose (50 mg L−1) introducing it as the best treatment to ameliorate sweet basil performance especially essential oil compounds under salt stress. GO application at its higher dose (100 mg L−1) demonstrated toxicity by negative impacts on the measured parameters. In conclusion, the positive response of sweet basil to GO-GB NPs under non-stress and salt stress conditions cause to consider the NPs as potential novel plant growth promoting and stress protecting agent with innovative outlooks for its use in agriculture.

Fatores antinutricionais de importância na nutrição animal: Composição e função dos compostos secundários

Anti-nutritional factors are substances that even in vestigial state, reduce or prevent the use of a nutritional element. These anti-nutritional factors, most of which are secondary metabolites, which can be defined as compounds that have no recognized role in the maintenance of vital plant processes that synthesize them, in contrast, play an important role in the interaction of the plant with its environment. Anti-nutritional factors are usually not seen with "good eyes". Although the term anti-nutritional factors refer only to the "bad" characteristics of these substances, it is worth remembering that they are not only responsible for generating adverse effects. On the contrary, virtually all of them, if not all, are capable of conferring, also, possible beneficial effects to the animal organism. Some phenolic compounds of greater representativeness in the animal feed, are: tannins, lignins and gossypol. However, there are also saponins, mimosins, phytate, lectins, protease inhibitors and cyanogenic glycosides. All present in the plants, each with its particularity that will be explained throughout this review.

Вплив ізатізону та наносрібла SS1000 на ростові процеси, зернову продуктивність та фотосинтез вівса сорту незламний

Вплив ізатізону та наносрібла SS1000 на ростові процеси, зернову продуктивність та фотосинтез вівса сорту незламний

Efectos de la contaminación ambiental en la flora y fauna en el cantón La Maná

Actualmente, en nuestro país observamos a diario como están las ciudades, contaminadas de residuos sólidos, basura, objetos sin vida, así como también existen factores artificiales como la lluvia ácida y la deforestación ya que esto afecta a la contaminación de la flora y fauna en el cantón.
 La contaminación en su definición imposibilita el crecimiento de muchas especies vegetales, porque la presencia de sustancias químicas en el suelo altera los procesos vitales de las plantas. No existe una gran variedad de especies, como ocurre en los sectores no urbanos, donde el hombre ha tenido un menor grado de influencia y son menores los niveles de contaminación.
 La consecuencia de las actividades industriales y del transporte, contamina la atmósfera, es responsable de la destrucción de grandes bosques, afecta el suelo que se contamina con sustancias ácidas que dificultan o impiden el crecimiento de nuevas especies vegetales, con lo cual se favorece la erosión del suelo.
 La contaminación de la flora y fauna ha provocado la destrucción de la biodiversidad en el Planeta. Actualmente en el Ecuador incluyen aproximadamente el 11% de las especies existentes en el mundo y el 30% de las especies enumeradas en América Latina, lo cual en sus datos anteriores era de un 13%.Tabla 1: Flora y fauna contaminada
 Actualmente el territorio ecuatoriano recoge 25.000 especies de plantas vasculares. También se ha identificado 2725 especies de orquídeas. El 11% de las especies existentes en el mundo y el 30% de las especies enumeradas en América Latina. Los Andes comprenden 1.050 especies, mientras que 850 fueron inventariados en la región amazónica y a lo largo de la costa.

Expression patterns and promoter analyses of aluminum-responsive NAC genes suggest a possible growth regulation of rice mediated by aluminum, hormones and NAC transcription factors.

In acid soils, the solubilized form of aluminum, Al+3, decreases root growth and affects the development of most crops. However, like other toxic elements, Al can have hormetic effects on plant metabolism. Rice (Oryza sativa) is one of the most tolerant species to Al toxicity, and when this element is supplied at low doses, growth stimulation has been observed, which could be due to combined mechanisms that are partly triggered by NAC transcription factors. This protein family can regulate vital processes in plants, including growth, development, and response to environmental stimuli, whether biotic or abiotic. Under our experimental conditions, 200 μM Al stimulated root growth and the formation of tillers; it also caused differential expression of a set of NAC genes. The promoter regions of the genes regulated by Al were analyzed and the cis-acting elements that are potentially involved in the responses to different stimuli, including environmental stress, were identified. Through the Genevestigator platform, data on the expression of NAC genes were obtained by experimental condition, tissue, and vegetative stage. This is the first study on NAC genes where in vivo and in silico data are complementarily analyzed, relating the hormetic effect of Al on plant growth and gene expression with a possible interaction in the response to phytohormones in rice. These findings could help to elucidate the possible convergence between the signaling pathways mediated by phytohormones and the role of the NAC transcription factors in the regulation of growth mediated by low Al doses.

Drought-induced embolism in stems of sunflower: A comparison of in vivo micro-CT observations and destructive hydraulic measurements

Vulnerability curves (VCs) are a useful tool to investigate the susceptibility of plants to drought-induced hydraulic failure, and several experimental techniques have been used for their measurement. The validity of the bench dehydration method coupled to hydraulic measurements, considered as a 'golden standard', has been recently questioned calling for its validation with non-destructive methods. We compared the VCs of a herbaceous crop plant (Helianthus annuus) obtained during whole-plant dehydration followed by i) hydraulic flow measurements in stem segments (classical destructive method) or by ii) in vivo micro-CT observations of stem xylem conduits in intact plants. The interpolated P50 values (xylem water potential inducing 50% loss of hydraulic conductance) were −1.74 MPa and −0.87 MPa for the hydraulic and the micro-CT VC, respectively. Interpolated P20 values were similar, while P50 and P80 were significantly different, as evidenced by non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals. Our results did not support the tension-cutting artefact, as no overestimation of vulnerability was observed when comparing the hydraulic VC to that obtained with in vivo imaging. After one scan, 25% of plants showed signs of x-ray induced damage, while three successive scans caused the formation of a circular brownish scar in all tested plants. Our results support the validity of hydraulic measurements of samples excised under tension provided standard sampling and handling protocols are followed, but also show that caution is needed when investigating vital plant processes with x-ray imaging.

Basic leucine zipper domain transcription factors: the vanguards in plant immunity.

Regulation of spatio-temporal expression patterns of stress tolerance associated plant genes is an essential component of the stress responses. Eukaryotes assign a large amount of their genome to transcription with multiple transcription factors (TFs). Often, these transcription factors fit into outsized gene groups which, in several cases, exclusively belong to plants. Basic leucine zipper domain (bZIP) transcription factors regulate vital processes in plants and animals. In plants, bZIPs are implicated in numerous fundamental processes like seed development, energy balance, and responses to abiotic or biotic stresses. Systematic analysis of the information obtained over the last two decades disclosed a constitutive role of bZIPs against biotic stress. bZIP TFs are vital players in plant innate immunity due to their ability to regulate genes associated with PAMP-triggered immunity, effector-triggered immunity, and hormonal signaling networks. Expression analysis of studied bZIP genes suggests that exploration and functional characterization of novel bZIP TFs in planta is helpful in improving crop resistance against pathogens and environmental stresses. Our review focuses on major advancements in bZIP TFs and plant responses against different pathogens. The integration of genomics information with the functional studies provides new insights into the regulation of plant defense mechanisms and engineering crops with improved resistance to invading pathogens. Conclusively, succinct functions of bZIPs as positive or negative regulator mediate resistance to the plant pathogens and lay a foundation for understanding associated genes and TFs regulating different pathways. Moreover, bZIP TFs may offer a comprehensive transgenic gizmo for engineering disease resistance in plant breeding programs.

In silico analysis reveals widespread presence of three gene families, MAPK, MAPKK and MAPKKK, of the MAPK cascade from crop plants of Solanaceae in comparison to the distantly-related syntenic species from Rubiaceae, coffee.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are an important family of genes which play roles in vital plant processes, and they also help in coping against various kinds of environmental stresses including abiotic as well as biotic factors. The advancement of genomics calls for the annotation, identification, and detailed processing of the essential gene families in plants in order to provide insights into the importance of their central roles as well as for providing the basis for making their growth vigorous even under stressed conditions and, ultimately, to benefit from them by foreseeing the potential threats to their growth. In the current study, MAPK, MAPKK, and MAPKKK families of the MAPK cascade were identified and reported from five different agriculturally and economically important crop species of the Solanaceae and Rubiaceae families based on conserved signature motifs aligned throughout the members of the families under this gene superfamily. Genes reported from the species after strict filtering were: 89, tomato; 108, potato; 63, eggplant; 79, pepper; 64, coffee. These MAPKs were found to be randomly distributed throughout the genome on the chromosomes of the respective species. Various characteristics of the identified genes were studied including gene structure, gene and coding sequence length, protein length, isoelectric point, molecular weight, and subcellular localization. Moreover, maximum likelihood test of phylogeny was conducted on the retrieved sequences for the three MAPK cascade families to determine their homologous relationships which were also analyzed quantitatively by heat plots.

NOTA TÉCNICA: ZONAS DE MANEJO NOS NÍVEIS DE FÓSFORO E POTÁSSIO NO SOLO E A PRODUTIVIDADE DE ARROZ IRRIGADO

O fósforo participa de processos vitais nas plantas, como a fotossíntese, a respiração, o armazenamento e transferência de energia, a divisão celular e o crescimento das células. O potássio atua na ativação de algumas enzimas e desempenha um papel importante no equilíbrio de água nas plantas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo correlacionar os níveis de fósforo e potássio com a produtividade em arroz irrigado, bem como avaliar a viabilidade do uso de agricultura de precisão em área de arroz irrigado. O trabalho foi conduzido durante três safras em sucessão de culturas: arroz, soja, arroz, no município de Santa Vitória do Palmar/RS. Utilizou-se uma área de 22,18 ha, dividida em 15 parcelas, as quais foram georreferenciadas no ponto central. Foi coletada uma amostra de solo em cada parcela, composta por 9 subamostras, que foram encaminhadas para análises químicas. Foram gerados mapas de rendimento e de fertilidade através dos dados das análises de solo e produtividade e criadas zonas de manejo com adubação diferenciada para corrigir e uniformizar os teores de fósforo e de potássio. Os resultados deste trabalho mostram que: a agricultura de precisão proporcionou aumento de fertilidade do solo através do uso de zonas de manejo; o emprego de zonas de manejo diminuiu a variabilidade nos teores de fósforo e de potássio nas parcelas do quarteirão estudado; não houve correlação entre os níveis de fósforo e potássio no rendimento da cultura de arroz irrigado.

Ferric-chelate reductase activity is a limiting factor in iron uptake in spinach and kale roots

Iron (Fe) is essential for many vital processes in plants, including chlorophyll biosynthesis, DNA synthesis, nitrogen reduction, and photosynthetic electron transfer. However, free Fe ions also participate in the Fenton reaction, which generates reactive oxygen species that induce oxidative stress, leading to lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and DNA mutation. Accordingly, plants have developed strategies to prevent roots from absorbing excess Fe. Here, we investigated Fe homeostasis in hydroponically grown spinach and kale under various Fe concentrations (5-800 µM), as well as the resulting changes in bioactive compound levels. Spinach and kale Fe contents did not increase under Fe concentrations in the nutrient solution of up to 200 µM. When spinach plants (grown in nutrient solution containing 2 µM Fe-EDTA) were transferred to 50 µM Fe-EDTA, ferric-chelate reductase activity in roots rapidly decreased within 24 hours. In kale, ferric-chelate reductase activity also significantly decreased with increasing Fe-EDTA concentration. As Fe did not accumulate in spinach plants, no significant differences in plant growth were observed. However, in kale, root growth was slightly suppressed by high Fe (100-200 µM) levels in the rhizosphere. Comparisons to other studies suggest that variations in phenolic and flavonoid contents are dependent on plant species, but overall, Fe treatment did not result in a significant increase in these compounds in spinach or kale. Our results suggest that in spinach and kale roots, the regulation of Fe contents by ferric-chelate reductase is responsible for maintaining Fe homeostasis.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Genes Encoding Methionine-Rich Proteins in Arabidopsis and Soybean Suggesting Their Roles in the Adaptation of Plants to Abiotic Stress.

Oxidation and reduction of methionine (Met) play important roles in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and signaling in living organisms. To understand the impacts of Met oxidation and reduction in plants during stress, we surveyed the genomes of Arabidopsis and soybean (Glycine max L.) for genes encoding Met-rich proteins (MRPs). We found 121 and 213 genes encoding MRPs in Arabidopsis and soybean, respectively. Gene annotation indicated that those with known function are involved in vital cellular processes such as transcriptional control, calcium signaling, protein modification, and metal transport. Next, we analyzed the transcript levels of MRP-coding genes under normal and stress conditions. We found that 57 AtMRPs were responsive either to drought or to high salinity stress in Arabidopsis; 35 GmMRPs were responsive to drought in the leaf of late vegetative or early reproductive stages of soybean. Among the MRP genes with a known function, the majority of the abiotic stress-responsive genes are involved in transcription control and calcium signaling. Finally, Arabidopsis plant which overexpressed an MRP-coding gene, whose transcripts were downregulated by abiotic stress, was more sensitive to paraquat than the control. Taken together, our report indicates that MRPs participate in various vital processes of plants under normal and stress conditions.

The role of vegetation in the daily and yearly small tilt variations of the Danube's high bank, Hungary

In this paper relationships between vital processes of plants and small movements of a river bank slope are investigated. For monitoring the movements, two geodetic test sites were established on the high loess bank of the river Danube at Dunafoldvar and Dunaszekcső in Hungary. At both sites two highly sensitive borehole tiltmeters were installed for continuous monitoring of movements. The recorded daily tilt amplitudes were compared with the precipitation and the potential evapotranspiration of the area. It was pointed out that the daily tilt amplitudes are in close connection with the vital processes of the plants. The precipitation effect on the seasonal variations of the tilt amplitudes is of minor importance which means that the vegetation has a much more important role in the water balance of the upper soil layer than the precipitation. Our investigation showed that the vegetation can be effective in hindering landslides occurrence since the infiltration of the precipitation into the deep soil layers and so the moistening of the high bank can be significantly diminished by planting appropriate vegetation on slopes.

Virus-induced gene silencing of plastidial soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase impairs essential leaf anabolic pathways and reduces drought stress tolerance in Nicotiana benthamiana.

The role of pyrophosphate in primary metabolism is poorly understood. Here, we report on the transient down-regulation of plastid-targeted soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase in Nicotiana benthamiana source leaves. Physiological and metabolic perturbations were particularly evident in chloroplastic central metabolism, which is reliant on fast and efficient pyrophosphate dissipation. Plants lacking plastidial soluble inorganic pyrophosphatase (psPPase) were characterized by increased pyrophosphate levels, decreased starch content, and alterations in chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis, while constituents like amino acids (except for histidine, serine, and tryptophan) and soluble sugars and organic acids (except for malate and citrate) remained invariable from the control. Furthermore, translation of Rubisco was significantly affected, as observed for the amounts of the respective subunits as well as total soluble protein content. These changes were concurrent with the fact that plants with reduced psPPase were unable to assimilate carbon to the same extent as the controls. Furthermore, plants with lowered psPPase exposed to mild drought stress showed a moderate wilting phenotype and reduced vitality, which could be correlated to reduced abscisic acid levels limiting stomatal closure. Taken together, the results suggest that plastidial pyrophosphate dissipation through psPPase is indispensable for vital plant processes.