Xylem Stream Research Articles

Cucumber malate decarboxylase, CsNADP-ME2, functions in the balance of carbon and amino acid metabolism in fruit

Abstract Central metabolism produces carbohydrates and amino acids that are tightly correlated to plant growth and thereby crop productivity. Malate is reported to link mitochondrial respiratory metabolism with cytosolic biosynthetic pathways. Although the function of malate metabolism-related enzymes in providing carbon has been characterized in some plants, evidence for this role in the fleshy fruit of cucumber is lacking. Here, radiolabeled bicarbonate fed into the xylem stream from the cucumber roots was incorporated into amino acids, soluble sugars, and organic acids in the exocarp and vasculature of fruits. The activities of decarboxylases, especially decarboxylation from NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME), were higher in cucumber fruit than in the leaf lamina. Histochemical localization revealed that CsNADP-ME2 was mainly located in the exocarp and vascular bundle system of fruit. Radiotracer and gas-exchange analysis indicated that overexpression of CsNADP-ME2 could promote carbon flux into soluble sugars and starch in fruits. Further studies combined with metabolic profiling revealed that the downregulation of CsNADP-ME2 in RNA interference (RNAi) lines caused the accumulation of its substrate, malate, in the exocarp. In addition to inhibition of glycolysis-related gene expression and reduction of the activities of the corresponding enzymes, increased amino acid synthesis and decreased sugar abundance were also observed in these lines. The opposite effect was found in CsNADP-ME2-overexpressing lines, suggesting that there may be a continuous bottom-up feedback regulation of glycolysis in cucumber fruits. Overall, our studies indicate that CsNADP-ME2 may play potential roles in both central carbon reactions and amino acid metabolism in cucumber fruits.

Study of Mineral Composition and Quality of Fruit Using Vascular Restrictions in Branches of Sweet Cherry.

Calcium (Ca) and carbohydrate (CHO) supply in sweet cherry have been associated with fruit quality at harvest and during storage. There is little published information integrating CHO and Ca availability and distribution in sweet cherry and their effects on fruit quality. Accordingly, in the 2019-20 season, vascular restrictions were imposed on the phloem (girdling, G, stopping phloem flow) and xylem (transverse incision, S, cutting 50% of xylem cross-section area) of individual vertical branches of the sweet cherry combination 'Lapins'/Colt trained as Kym Green Bush system to modify mineral and CHO composition in fruit and associate such changes with quality at harvest and storage. The girdling to the phloem was used to induce changes in CHO distribution. The transverse incision to the xylem was a tool to modify Ca distribution. Five treatments (TR) were implemented: TR1-CTL = Control (without vascular restriction), TR2-G, at its base, TR3-G + G: at its base, and G further up at the change of year between the second and the third years of growth TR4--S and TR5-S + G. The vegetative (i.e., shoot and leaf growth), reproductive (i.e., fruit set and yield) development and stomatal conductance were monitored. Each branch was divided into the upper (1-and 2-year-old wood) and the lower (3-and 4-year-old wood) segments of the restriction applied. The quality and mineral composition (Ca, Mg, K, and N) of fruit borne on each segment were measured at harvest. The upper segment of TR3-G + G branches were harvested 10 d before the lower segment. The fruit from the upper segment of TR3-G + G was the largest, the sweetest, and had the higher titratable acidity concentration. However, fruits of this segment were the softest, had the lowest Ca concentrations, and had the highest ratios of N:Ca and K:Ca, compared with the other TRs. TR3-G + G branches developed the highest number of lateral current season shoots including shoots below the second girdling in the lower segment of the branch. This vegetative flow of growth would explain the mineral unbalance produced in the fruit from the upper segment of the branch. TR2-G did not register changes in fruit quality and mineral concentration compared with TR1-CTL. Surprisingly, the fruit from the branches with xylem restriction did not show changes in Ca concentration, suggesting that the xylem stream was enough to supply the fruit in branches without lateral shoot development. Fruit firmness was positively related to fruit Ca concentration and negatively related to the ratios of K:Ca and N:Ca.

Nitrate fertilization may delay autumn leaf senescence, while amino acid treatments do not.

Fertilization with nitrogen (N)‐rich compounds leads to increased growth but may compromise phenology and winter survival of trees in boreal regions. During autumn, N is remobilized from senescing leaves and stored in other parts of the tree to be used in the next growing season. However, the mechanism behind the N fertilization effect on winter survival is not well understood, and it is unclear how N levels or forms modulate autumn senescence. We performed fertilization experiments and showed that treating Populus saplings with inorganic nitrogen resulted in a delay in senescence. In addition, by using precise delivery of solutes into the xylem stream of Populus trees in their natural environment, we found that delay of autumn senescence was dependent on the form of N administered: inorganic N (NO3−) delayed senescence, but amino acids (Arg, Glu, Gln, and Leu) did not. Metabolite profiling of leaves showed that the levels of tricarboxylic acids, arginine catabolites (ammonium, ornithine), glycine, glycine‐serine ratio and overall carbon‐to‐nitrogen (C/N) ratio were affected differently by the way of applying NO3 − and Arg treatments. In addition, the onset of senescence did not coincide with soluble sugar accumulation in control trees or in any of the treatments. We propose that different regulation of C and N status through direct molecular signaling of NO3 − and/or different allocation of N between tree parts depending on N forms could account for the contrasting effects of NO3 − and tested here amino acids (Arg, Glu, Gln, and Leu) on autumn senescence.

Root Absorption and Xylem Movement of Ethephon in Tomato

Although ethephon is commonly used as a plant growth regulator during commercial production of horticultural crops, information on its movement within plants is limited. In this study, we developed a method to detect ethephon in plant tissues, and determined ethephon localization and movement using tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) as a model system. Tissues were ground in an acidic buffer that preserved ethephon intact. Ethylene was released from the extracts by adding sodium hydroxide and was determined subsequently by gas chromatography. Ethephon was detected in leaves within 1 hour of application to peat-based root zones and within 10 minutes in hydroponics. In a pulse–chase experiment, ethephon levels increased initially, then decreased after the plants were returned to ethephon-free solutions. Ethephon was present in directly collected xylem fluid; fluid collected from petiole stumps (after leaf blade excision) had similar ethephon levels between the different petioles. Stem girdling had no effect on ethephon accumulation in leaves. Together, these data indicate ethephon is readily mobile in the xylem stream and provides insight into the commercial use of ethephon as a root zone-applied growth regulator.

Black Seedcoat Pigmentation Is a Marker for Enhanced Nodulation and N2 Fixation in Bambara Groundnut (Vigna Subterranea L. Verdc.) Landraces

Field studies on the effect of differing seedcoat colour on plant growth and symbiotic performance of three Bambara groundnut landraces using the 15N natural abundance technique and ureide analysis in the xylem stream and petiole extracts revealed a consistent pattern in nodule function between ureide levels and shoot δ15N values, as well as between ureide levels and percent N derived from fixation at Gbalahi, Kpalisogu, and Manga. At those three sites, where shoot δ15N was low and percent N derived from fixation high, ureide concentrations in the xylem sap and petiole extracts were also high, indicating that the two techniques were comparatively quite robust in estimating N2 fixation at a higher precision in the test Bambara groundnut landraces. A comparison of the effect of differing seedcoat pigmentation on the concentration of phenolics released by imbibed seeds showed that the Black landrace contained higher levels of flavonoids and anthocyanins, followed by the Red, and lowest in the Cream landrace. The Black landrace also recorded much higher nodule number and nodule fresh weight per plant, greater shoot biomass, lower shoot δ15N values, greater N derived from fixation, higher symbiotic N contribution, and increased water-use efficiency across all the five study sites, followed by the Red landrace, which produced the highest grain yield. Black seedcoat pigmentation in Bambara groundnut is therefore a marker for increased nodulation, N2 fixation, and plant growth that can be tapped in breeding programs for developing high N2-fixing, water-use efficient grain legumes for use by farmers in Africa.

Isotopic fractionation from deep roots to tall shoots: A forensic analysis of xylem water isotope composition in mature tropical savanna trees

Studies of plant water sources generally assume that xylem water integrates the isotopic composition (δ2H and δ18O) of water sources and does not fractionate during uptake or transport along the transpiration pathway. However, woody xerophytes, halophytes, and trees in mesic environments can show isotopic fractionation from source waters. Isotopic fractionation and variation in isotope composition can affect the interpretation of tree water sources, but most studies to date have been greenhouse experiments. Here we present a field-based forensic analysis of xylem water isotope composition for 12 Eucalyptus tetrodonta and Corymbia nesophila trees. We used a 25-tonne excavator to access materials from the trees' maximum rooting depth of 3 m to their highest canopies at 38 m. Substantial within-tree variation occurred in δ2H (−91.1‰ to −35.7‰ E. tetrodonta; −88.8‰ to −24.5‰ C. nesophila) and δ18O (−12.3‰ to −5.0‰ E. tetrodonta; −10.9‰ to −0.3‰ C. nesophila), with different root-to-branch isotope patterns in each species. Soil water δ2H and δ18O dual isotope slopes (7.26 E. tetrodonta, 6.66 C. nesophila) were closest to the Local Meteoric Water Line (8.4). The dual isotope slopes of the trees decreased progressively from roots (6.45 E. tetrodonta, 6.07 C. nesophila), to stems (4.61 E. tetrodonta, 5.97 C. nesophila) and branches (4.68 E. tetrodonta, 5.67 C. nesophila), indicative of fractionation along the xylem stream. Roots of both species were more enriched in 2H and 18O than soil water at all sampled depths. Bayesian mixing model analysis showed that estimated proportions of water sourced from different depths reflected the contrasting root systems of these species. Our study adds evidence of isotopic fractionation from water uptake and along the transpiration stream in mature trees in monsoonal environments, affecting the interpretation of water sources. We discuss the findings with view of interpreting aboveground xylem water isotopic composition, incorporating knowledge of root systems.

Internal transport of CO2 from the root-zone to plant shoot is pH dependent.

We investigated the fate of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) absorbed by roots or internally produced by respiration using gas exchange and stable isotopic labeling. CO2 efflux from detached leaves supplied with bicarbonate/CO2 solutions was followed over six cycles. CO2 effluxes were detected when bicarbonate solution at high pH was used, corresponding to 71-85% of the expected efflux. No CO2 efflux was detected when CO2 solutions at low pH were used but CO2 efflux was subsequently detected as soon as bicarbonate solutions at high pH were supplied. By sealing the leaf and petiole in a plastic bag to reduce diffusion to the atmosphere, a small CO2 efflux signal (14-30% of the expected efflux) was detected suggesting that CO2 in the xylem stream can readily escape to the atmosphere before reaching the leaf. When the root-zones of intact plants were exposed to CO2 solutions, a significant efflux from leaf surface was observed (13% of the expected efflux). However, no signal was detected when roots were exposed to a high pH bicarbonate solution. Isotopic tracer experiments confirmed that CO2 supplied to the root-zone was transported through the plant and was readily lost to the atmosphere. However, little 13 C moved to the shoot when roots were exposed to bicarbonate solutions at pH8, suggesting that bicarbonate does not pass into the xylem.

Newly Identified Wild Rice Accessions Conferring High Salt Tolerance Might Use a Tissue Tolerance Mechanism in Leaf.

Cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) is very sensitive to salt stress. So far a few rice landraces have been identified as a source of salt tolerance and utilized in rice improvement. These tolerant lines primarily use Na+ exclusion mechanism in root which removes Na+ from the xylem stream by membrane Na+ and K+ transporters, and resulted in low Na+ accumulation in shoot. Identification of a new donor source conferring high salt tolerance is imperative. Wild relatives of rice having wide genetic diversity are regarded as a potential source for crop improvement. However, they have been less exploited against salt stress. Here, we simultaneously evaluated all 22 wild Oryza species along with the cultivated tolerant lines including Pokkali, Nona Bokra, and FL478, and sensitive check varieties under high salinity (240 mM NaCl). Based on the visual salt injury score, three species (O. alta, O. latifolia, and O. coarctata) and four species (O. rhizomatis, O. eichingeri, O. minuta, and O. grandiglumis) showed higher and similar level of tolerance compared to the tolerant checks, respectively. All three CCDD genome species exhibited salt tolerance, suggesting that the CCDD genome might possess the common genetic factors for salt tolerance. Physiological and biochemical experiments were conducted using the newly isolated tolerant species together with checks under 180 mM NaCl. Interestingly, all wild species showed high Na+ concentration in shoot and low concentration in root unlike the tolerant checks. In addition, the wild-tolerant accessions showed a tendency of a high tissue tolerance in leaf, low malondialdehyde level in shoot, and high retention of chlorophyll in the young leaves. These results suggest that the wild species employ tissue tolerance mechanism to manage salt stress. Gene expression analyses of the key salt tolerance-related genes suggested that high Na+ in leaf of wild species might be affected by OsHKT1;4-mediated Na+ exclusion in leaf and the following Na+ sequestration in leaf might be occurring independent of tonoplast-localized OsNHX1. The newly isolated wild rice accessions will be valuable materials for both rice improvement to salinity stress and the study of salt tolerance mechanism in plants.

CEP peptide hormones: key players in orchestrating nitrogen-demand signalling, root nodulation, and lateral root development.

Secreted peptide hormones play pivotal roles in plant growth and development. So far, CEPs (C-TERMINALLY ENCODED PEPTIDEs) have been shown to act through CEP receptors (CEPRs) to control nitrogen (N)-demand signalling, nodulation, and lateral root development. Secreted CEP peptides can enter the xylem stream to act as long-distance signals, but evidence also exists for CEPs acting in local circuits. Recently, CEP peptide species varying in sequence, length, and post-translational modifications have been identified. A more comprehensive understanding of CEP biology requires insight into the in planta function of CEP genes, CEP peptide biogenesis, the components of CEP signalling cascades and, finally, how CEP peptide length, amino-acid composition, and post-translational modifications affect biological activity. In this review, we highlight recent studies that have advanced our understanding in these key areas and discuss some future directions.

Effects of root morphology and leaf transpiration on Cd uptake and translocation in rice under different growth temperature.

With growing concerns on cadmium (Cd) contamination of rice grain from the public, the mechanism about the uptake and translocation of Cd in rice plant has been widely studied in recent years. However, the study about the effects of future warming on rice Cd accumulation was almost neglected. In the paper, hydroponic experiments of Cd exposure in growth chambers under different growth temperature (asymmetric and symmetric warming) were conducted to investigate how warming influenced Cd uptake and translocation in rice seedlings (6 liangyou 9368). The results showed that warming significantly increased Cd accumulation in shoot and root by 62.7 to 122% and 65.5 to 73.9%, respectively. Moreover, symmetric warming boosted Cd translocation from root to shoot, while antitranspirant treatment inhibited it significantly. The possible mechanisms may be that warming increased the fine root (diameter≤0.5mm) surface area and enlarged the active sites on root surface by influencing root morphology growth, thus promoted Cd uptake by root. Meanwhile, warming increased leaf transpiration and boosted the xylem stream from nutrient solution to above organs, thus enhanced Cd translocation. This study may provide new understanding and possible explanations about Cd uptake and translocation in rice plant under future warming.

Metabolic Fate of the Carboxyl Groups of Malate and Pyruvate and their Influence on δ(13)C of Leaf-Respired CO2 during Light Enhanced Dark Respiration.

The enhanced CO2 release of illuminated leaves transferred into darkness, termed “light enhanced dark respiration (LEDR)”, is often associated with an increase in the carbon isotope ratio of the respired CO2 (δ13CLEDR). The latter has been hypothesized to result from different respiratory substrates and decarboxylation reactions in various metabolic pathways, which are poorly understood so far. To provide a better insight into the underlying metabolic processes of δ13CLEDR, we fed position-specific 13C-labeled malate and pyruvate via the xylem stream to leaves of species with high and low δ13CLEDR values (Halimium halimifolium and Oxalis triangularis, respectively). During respective label application, we determined label-derived leaf 13CO2 respiration using laser spectroscopy and the 13C allocation to metabolic fractions during light–dark transitions. Our results clearly show that both carboxyl groups (C-1 and C-4 position) of malate similarly influence respiration and metabolic fractions in both species, indicating possible isotope randomization of the carboxyl groups of malate by the fumarase reaction. While C-2 position of pyruvate was only weakly respired, the species-specific difference in natural δ13CLEDR patterns were best reflected by the 13CO2 respiration patterns of the C-1 position of pyruvate. Furthermore, 13C label from malate and pyruvate were mainly allocated to amino and organic acid fractions in both species and only little to sugar and lipid fractions. In summary, our results suggest that respiration of both carboxyl groups of malate (via fumarase) by tricarboxylic acid cycle reactions or by NAD-malic enzyme influences δ13CLEDR. The latter supplies the pyruvate dehydrogenase reaction, which in turn determines natural δ13CLEDR pattern by releasing the C-1 position of pyruvate.

The importance of strigolactone transport regulation for symbiotic signaling and shoot branching.

Main conclusionThis review presents the role of strigolactone transport in regulating plant root and shoot architecture, plant-fungal symbiosis and the crosstalk with several phytohormone pathways. The authors, based on their data and recently published results, suggest that long-distance, as well local strigolactone transport might occur in a cell-to-cell manner rather than via the xylem stream.Strigolactones (SLs) are recently characterized carotenoid-derived phytohormones. They play multiple roles in plant architecture and, once exuded from roots to soil, in plant-rhizosphere interactions. Above ground SLs regulate plant developmental processes, such as lateral bud outgrowth, internode elongation and stem secondary growth. Below ground, SLs are involved in lateral root initiation, main root elongation and the establishment of the plant-fungal symbiosis known as mycorrhiza. Much has been discovered on players and patterns of SL biosynthesis and signaling and shown to be largely conserved among different plant species, however little is known about SL distribution in plants and its transport from the root to the soil. At present, the only characterized SL transporters are the ABCG protein PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE 1 from Petunia axillaris (PDR1) and, in less detail, its close homologue from Nicotiana tabacum PLEIOTROPIC DRUG RESISTANCE 6 (PDR6). PDR1 is a plasma membrane-localized SL cellular exporter, expressed in root cortex and shoot axils. Its expression level is regulated by its own substrate, but also by the phytohormone auxin, soil nutrient conditions (mainly phosphate availability) and mycorrhization levels. Hence, PDR1 integrates information from nutrient availability and hormonal signaling, thus synchronizing plant growth with nutrient uptake. In this review we discuss the effects of PDR1 de-regulation on plant development and mycorrhization, the possible cross-talk between SLs and other phytohormone transporters and finally the need for SL transporters in different plant species.

English

Agriculture is one of the most exposed sectors to vagaries of climate change (Malik, 2012). Around 20-25% of the world (Munns and Tester, 2008) and 26% of Pakistan’s agricultural (Anonymous, 2010) irrigated lands are affected by salinity. Saline area is increasing day by day due to higher evapotranspiration that demand more irrigation and consequently, more salt accumulation in the root zone especially in arid and semiarid regions of the world (Iqbal et al., 2009; Mou, 2011). Predominately, salinization (50–80%) is caused by NaCl salt (Kaouther, 2012). Primary toxic ion is Na as it not only impairs K uptake but also interrupts regulation of stomata which eventually causes water loss. Na enters in leaf apoplast through xylem stream and left behind as water evaporates. Na mainly compete and occupies cations binding sites by reducing uptake and transport of Ca and K (Munns and Tester, 2008; Horie et al., 2012; Hasanuzzaman et al., 2013). Hyperosmotic accompanied with hyper ionic conditions enhance generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) damaging the proteins, lipids, DNA and carbohydrates molecules, which weakens the plant defense mechanism and modifies membrane structures and its composition (Tuteja, 2007; Ismail, 2014; Jbir-Koubaa, 2014; Gao et al., 2015). Moreover, ROS intensifies MDA contents, deactivates enzymes, disrupts ions of normal cellular metabolism and enhances electrolyte leakage that causes programmed cell death (necroptosis) and reduced photosynthetic activity (Gao et al., 2015). Therefore, plants manifest various scavenging machineries like enzymatic antioxidant system (SOD, CAT, POD), the level of which is elevated during abiotic stresses (Gill and Tuteja, 2010; Choudhury, 2013; Ismail, 2014). It also affects plant water relations and gas exchange attributes together with metabolic toxicity, reduction in green pigments and thereby intervening photosynthetic activity (Ashraf and Harris, 2013; Gupta and Huang, 2014; Li et al., 2014). Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a staple food for about 50% world’s population and third largest crop in human consumption. It is fourth major crop with respect to area and production in the world. It provides high energy per unit land, water and time along-with valuable source of vitamins and minerals (Abhayapala et al., 2014; Gao et al., 2015). It is moderately salt-sensitive (Mitsuya et al., 2000) with 50% growth and yield reduction at 5 dSm salt stress (Hmida-Sayari et al., 2005). However, tolerance level varies from cultivar to cultivar (Bruns and HechtBuchholz, 1990). Increasing saline area demands salt tolerant cultivars for sustainable potato production (Mou, 2011). Hence, it is necessary to understand salinity tolerance mechanism in potato, helpful in developing stress tolerant potato cultivars by using various modern techniques (Gururani et al., 2013). Considering this scenario, present experiment was conducted to assess adverse effects of salinity stress on ionic Pak. J. Agri. Sci., Vol. 53(1), 17-25; 2016 ISSN (Print) 0552-9034, ISSN (Online) 2076-0906 DOI: 10.21162/PAKJAS/16.4766 http://www.pakjas.com.pk

Fruit calcium accumulation coupled and uncoupled from its transpiration in kiwifruit

Accumulation of Ca in several fleshy fruit is often supposed to depend, among others, by climatic variables driving fruit transpiration. This study tests the whole causal chain hypothesis: VPD→fruit transpiration→Ca accumulation. Also there are evidences that relationship between fruit transpiration and Ca content is not always clear, hence the hypothesis that low VPD reduces the fraction of xylemic water destined to transpiration was tested by examining the water budget of fruit.Attached fruits of Actinidia deliciosa were subjected to Low (L) and High (H) VPD. Their transpiration was measured from early after fruit-set to day 157 after full bloom (DAFB). Fruits were picked at 70, 130 and 157 DAFB for Ca and K determinations and for water budget analysis.Cumulative transpired water was ∼70g and ∼16gH2Of−1 in HVPD and LVPD, respectively. Calcium accumulated linearly (R2=0.71) with cumulative transpiration when VPD was high, while correlation was weaker (R2=0.24) under LVPD. Under low VPD the fraction of xylem stream destined to transpiration declined to 40–50%.Results suggest that Ca accumulation is coupled to cumulative transpiration under high VPD because under that condition cumulative transpiration equals xylem stream (which carry the nutrient). At LVPD, Ca gain by fruit is uncoupled from transpiration because ∼60% of the xylemic water is needed to sustain fruit growth. Results will apply to most fruits (apples, tomatoes, capsicum, grapes etc.) since most suffer Ca deficiency disorders and grow in changing environments with variable VPD, also they could be supportive for the implementation of fruit quality models accounting also for mineral compositions and for a reinterpretation of certain field practices aimed at naturally improve fruit Ca content.

Calcium transport from source to sink: understanding the mechanism(s) of acquisition, translocation, and accumulation for crop biofortification

Calcium (Ca) is an essential nutrient that plays important role in various growth and developmental processes in plant. Plants absorb Ca through roots and deliver it to shoot through the xylem stream. Both physiological and molecular mechanisms are involved in the uptake and transport of Ca that affect the distribution and accumulation of Ca in plant tissues. Cation-exchange capacities (CEC) of rhizosphere, root, stem, shoot, and transpiration pull are the physiological forces which affect Ca movement. However, Ca transporter proteins viz., Ca2+ ATPases, Ca2+ exchangers and Ca2+ channels are the molecular forces that are actively involved in transporting Ca throughout the plant. The activity of these transporters are regulated by Ca sensor proteins. Plants store most of the Ca in bound form with Ca-binding proteins, phytic acid or oxalic acid. The process of Ca translocation and partitioning to different plant parts has both agronomic and economic importance. Hence, the understanding of Ca transport, distribution and accumulation in plants is necessary that would provide better insights in designing strategies to produce crop with higher bioavailable Ca content in the grains. The present review covers the various aspects of Ca transport and accumulation in plants that could help in dissecting and manipulating the key pathways involved in high grain Ca accumulation and designing strategies for efficient Ca biofortification in cereals crops.

Comparative expression of candidate genes involved in sodium transport and compartmentation in citrus

Plants possess a number of mechanisms to cope with sodium (Na+) under salt stress conditions that include minimizing Na+ influx, maximizing efflux back to the growth medium or to apoplastic spaces via Na+/H+ antiporters in the plasma membrane, intracellular compartmentation of Na+ into the vacuole, as well as recirculation of Na+ out of the shoot via the phloem. Na+ transport in plants constitutes a complex system, in which different Na+ transporters are closely related and their functions are matched tightly. The fact that in citrus under salt stress does chloride appear to be the more toxic ion has led to little attention being paid to Na+ uptake and transport mechanisms in citrus. The aim of this study was to provide insight into the links between the expression levels of candidate Na+ transporter genes (SOS1, NHX1, HKT1), as well as tonoplast proton pumps (V-ATPase, V-PPiase), and Na+ tolerance in two citrus rootstocks, Cleopatra mandarin and trifoliate orange, differing in their Na+ exclusion capacity under salt stress. According to the results of this preliminary study, we hypothesize that higher root Na+ concentration in trifoliate orange genotype, and thus lower allocation of this ion in the shoots, is the result of an enhanced retrieval of Na+ from xylem stream, and an impaired translocation to the shoot tissues, probably as a consequence of the overexpression of putative SOS1 (in roots) and HKT1 (both in roots and shoots). Moreover, the higher transcriptional levels of putative NHX1 found in roots and shoots of trifoliate orange plantlets compared to those of Cleopatra mandarin, together with the enhanced activity of the tonoplast proton pumps in the former, might reveal the preferential sequestration into vacuole of retrieved Na+ from xylem mainly in roots.

ZxNHX controls Na⁺ and K⁺ homeostasis at the whole-plant level in Zygophyllum xanthoxylum through feedback regulation of the expression of genes involved in their transport.

In order to cope with arid environments, the xerohalophyte Zygophyllum xanthoxylum efficiently compartmentalizes Na(+) into vacuoles, mediated by ZxNHX, and maintains stability of K(+) in its leaves. However, the function of ZxNHX in controlling Na(+) and K(+) homeostasis at the whole-plant level remains unclear. In this study, the role of ZxNHX in regulating the expression of genes involved in Na(+) and K(+) transport and spatial distribution was investigated. The role of ZxNHX in maintaining Na(+) and K(+) homeostasis in Z. xanthoxylum was studied using post-transcriptional gene silencing via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transformed plants were grown with or without 50 mm NaCl, and expression levels and physiological parameters were measured. It was found that 50 mm NaCl induced a 620 % increase in transcripts of ZxSOS1 but only an 80 % increase in transcripts of ZxHKT1;1 in roots of wild-type (WT) plants. Consequently, the ability of ZxSOS1 to transport Na(+) exceeded that of ZxHKT1;1, and Na(+) was loaded into the xylem by ZxSOS1 and delivered to the shoots. However, in a ZxNHX-silenced line (L7), the capacity to sequester Na(+) into vacuoles of leaves was weakened, which in turn regulated long-distance Na(+) transport from roots to shoots. In roots of L7, NaCl (50 mm) increased transcripts of ZxSOS1 by only 10 %, whereas transcripts of ZxHKT1;1 increased by 53 %. Thus, in L7, the transport ability of ZxHKT1;1 for Na(+) outweighed that of ZxSOS1. Na(+) was unloaded from the xylem stream, consequently reducing Na(+) accumulation and relative distribution in leaves, but increasing the relative distribution of Na(+) in roots and the net selective transport capacity for K(+) over Na(+) from roots to shoots compared with the WT. Silencing of ZxNHX also triggered a downregulation of ZxAKT1 and ZxSKOR in roots, resulting in a significant decrease in K(+) accumulation in all the tissues in plants grown in 50 mm NaCl. These changes led to a significant reduction in osmotic adjustment, and thus an inhibition of growth in ZxNHX-silenced lines. The results suggest that ZxNHX is essential for controlling Na(+), K(+) uptake, long-distance transport and their homeostasis at whole-plant level via feedback regulation of the expression of genes involved in Na(+), K(+) transport. The net result is the maintenance of the characteristic salt accumulation observed in Z. xanthoxylum and the regulation of its normal growth. A model is proposed for the role of ZxNHX in regulating the Na(+) transport system in Z. xanthoxylum under saline conditions.

Regulation of water balance in mangroves.

Mangroves are a group of highly salt-tolerant woody plants. The high water use efficiency of mangroves under saline conditions suggests that regulation of water transport is a crucial component of their salinity tolerance. This review focuses on the processes that contribute to the ability of mangroves to maintain water uptake and limit water loss to the soil and the atmosphere under saline conditions, from micro to macro scales. These processes include: (1) efficient filtering of the incoming water to exclude salt; (2) maintenance of internal osmotic potentials lower than that of the rhizosphere; (3) water-saving properties; and (4) efficient exploitation of less-saline water sources when these become available. Mangroves are inherently plastic and can change their structure at the root, leaf and stand levels in response to salinity in order to exclude salt from the xylem stream, maintain leaf hydraulic conductance, avoid cavitation and regulate water loss (e.g. suberization of roots and alterations of leaf size, succulence and angle, hydraulic anatomy and biomass partitioning). However, much is still unknown about the regulation of water uptake in mangroves, such as how they sense and respond to heterogeneity in root zone salinity, the extent to which they utilize non-stomatally derived CO2 as a water-saving measure and whether they can exploit atmospheric water sources.

What's the flux? Unraveling how CO2 fluxes from trees reflect underlying physiological processes

What's the flux? Unraveling how <scp>CO</scp>₂ fluxes from trees reflect underlying physiological processes

Symbiotic nitrogen contribution and biodiversity of root-nodule bacteria nodulating Psoralea species in the Cape Fynbos, South Africa

The genus Psoralea (tribe Psoraleae, family Leguminosae) is indigenous to the Cape fynbos of South Africa and little is known about its symbiosis and/or adaptation. The aim of this study was to assess root nodulation and N2 fixation in eight of the 50 Psoralea species, as well as the biodiversity of their associated nodulating microsymbionts. The eight species studied (namely, Psoralea pinnata, Psoralea aphylla, Psoralea aculeata, Psoralea monophylla, Psoralea repens, Psoralea laxa, Psoralea asarina and Psoralea restioides) all had round-shaped, determinate type (desmodioid) nodules, and data from 15N natural abundance showed that they obtained 60–88% of their N nutrition from symbiotic fixation. These Psoralea species also transported their fixed-N as ureides (allantoin and allantoic acid) in the xylem stream, a symbiotic trait that links them very closely to the tribe Phaseoleae. Bacteria isolated from root nodules of the eight Psoralea species varied in phenotypic characteristics, nodulation promiscuity, and N2-fixing efficacy. Furthermore, 16S rDNA gene sequence data showed that Psoralea species can form root nodules with different soil bacteria, including Rhizobium, Mesorhizobium and Burkholderia strains. This is not only evidence of nodulation promiscuity, but also an indication of the species’ adaptation to the nutrient-poor, low-N, sandy acidic soils of the Cape fynbos.