Новости науки и практики // Февраль 2020

Research identifies possible on/off switch for plant growth

New research identifies a protein that controls plant growth -- good news for an era in which crops can get crushed by climate change.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/uoc--rip011020.php

Scientists find critical receptor that allows plant cells to pass stress signals

Along with calcium, it may be how a plant can send stress signals from roots to leaves. The article shows that the DORN1/P2K1 receptor is critical in several calcium-related responses.

https://www.botany.one/2020/01/calcium-and-extracellular-atp-could-signal-stress-responses-in-plants/

A diversity of lipid composition in the seeds and fruits of the palm family

Scientists analyzed the lipid composition of the seeds of 174 species Arecaceae (101 genera in 26 tribes) and the fruits of 144 (85 genera in 25 tribes). They examined this data in relation to the systematics of the family, considering how lipids varied within and among tribes. The lipid data was also compared to latitude and altitude data in order to determine whether there is any correlation between unsaturated FAs and species that occur in colder environments.

https://www.botany.one/2020/01/a-diversity-of-lipid-composition-in-the-seeds-and-fruits-of-the-palm-family/

How do plants perceive damage to themselves?

Plants use receptor proteins on the surface of their cells to recognise danger signals from pathogens. A paper recently published by Li, Wang and Mou in Plant Physiology discusses recent work that finds that plants sense signals from damaged cells in a similar manner. As pathogens are recognised from pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) so too damage is detected through similar chemicals, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).

https://www.botany.one/2020/01/how-do-plants-perceive-damage-to-themselves/

Inhibition of Aminotransferases by Aminoethoxyvinylglycine Triggers a Nitrogen Limitation Condition and Deregulation of Histidine Homeostasis That Impact Root and Shoot Development and Nitrate Uptake

Here scientists highlight the changes induced by AVG (aminoethoxyvinylglycine)  and AVG + Glu (glutamate) treatments on the N metabolism impairment and root morphogenetic program.

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2019.01387/full?report=reader

Dynamism of vacuoles toward survival strategy in plants

Studies on biosynthesis and transport mechanisms discover novel vacuolar functions.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005273619302755

Green algal hydrocarbon metabolism is an exceptional source of sustainable chemicals

This review summarizes the current understanding of algal hydrocarbon metabolism, including carbon partitioning capacities, the localization and size of precursor pools, environmental effects on flux distribution, and limiting factors towards efficient (heterologous) hydrocarbon production. Questions and challenges regarding our knowledge of algal hydrocarbon metabolism as well as guidelines for systematic engineering are presented.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0958166919300941

Same same, but different: growth responses of primary and lateral roots

Waidemann et al. review similarities and differences between primary and lateral root organ growth and particularly emphasize on how external stimuli and internal signals differentially integrate root system growth.

https://academic.oup.com/jxb/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jxb/eraa027/5709686?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Cryptic variation in RNA-directed DNA-methylation controls lateral root development when auxin signalling is perturbed
Shahzad et al. show that potassium deficiency inhibits lateral root organogenesis by delaying early stages in the formation of lateral root primordia. However, the severity of the symptoms arising from this perturbation varies within a natural population of Arabidopsis and is associated with the genetic variation in CLSY1, a key component of the RNA-directed DNA-methylation machinery. Mechanistically, CLSY1 mediates the transcriptional repression of a negative regulator of root branching, IAA27, and promotes lateral root development when the auxin-dependent proteolysis pathway fails.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-13927-3

Disentangling phylogenetic and functional components of shape variation among shoot apical meristems of a wide range of herbaceous angiosperms

Schnablová et al. found large variations in shoot apical meristem (SAM) shapes across angiosperm lineages, but covering only a subset of geometrically possible shapes. Part of this variation was allometric (due to SAM size), but the dominant shape variation (dome‐shaped vs. flat surface) was size‐independent and strongly phylogenetically conserved. SAM shapes were largely independent of their cell size and therefore of the number of cells involved. Different patterns in shape variation of outer and inner SAM boundaries were associated with stem thickness, leaf area, and leafiness of the stem.

https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajb2.1407

Зачем кактусы глушат ультразвук?

Авторы работы полагают, что кактусы глушат ультразвук, чтобы было лучше слышно сам цветок – эхо от него будет выделяться на фоне тихого волосистого окружения. 

https://www.nkj.ru/news/38000/

Getting to the root of plant survival

Findings could help scientists control root emergence and battle dry conditions brought on by climate change.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/uod-gtt012720.php

Scientists uncover how an explosion of new genes explain the origin of land plants

The new study challenges the established view of the origin of plants on land, and reveal that compared to the origin of animals, plants are better at inventing new genes during periods of evolution.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/uob-suh011520.php

Scientists explain how leaf apex enhances water drainage

The leaf is the basis of plant survival. Through evolution, leaves have developed means to help control the absorption of sunshine and rain.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-01/caos-seh011320.php

Cyanobacteria in water and on land identified as source of methane

A research team has now shown for the first time that Cyanobacteria produce relevant amounts of methane in oceans, inland waters and on land. Due to climate change, ''Cyanobacteria blooms'' increase in frequency and extent, amplifying the release of methane from inland waters and oceans to the atmosphere.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200116112538.htm

Plants' 'organic' wounds improve produce

Scientists found benefits of insect leaf-wounding in fruit and vegetable production. Stress responses created in the fruits and vegetables initiated an increase in antioxidant compounds prior to harvest.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200109112857.htm

How the Ginkgo biloba achieves near-immortality

Researchers have revealed the molecular mechanisms that allow the ginkgo—and perhaps other trees – to survive so long.

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/how-ginkgo-biloba-achieves-near-immortality

Decisions, decisions, decisions: plant roots detect and respond to complex environmental cues

https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.16372

Цветут цветы среди зимы

Участники проекта МГУ «Флора России» обнаружили зимнее цветение в средней полосе России.

https://www.nkj.ru/news/37812/