Новости науки и практики // Октябрь 2022

Plant breeding: Using 'invisible' chromosomes to pass on packages of positive traits

The ideal crop plant is tasty and high-yielding while also being resistant to diseases and pests. But if the relevant genes are far apart on a chromosome, some of these positive traits can be lost during breeding. To ensure that positive traits can be passed on together, researchers have used CRISPR/Cas molecular scissors to invert and thus genetically deactivate nine-tenths of a chromosome. The traits coded for on this part of the chromosome become 'invisible' for genetic exchange and can thus be passed on unchanged.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/09/220920100738.htm

Modelling phenomics data for temperature response

Using computational models to overcome the shortcomings of high throughput phenotyping field data.

https://botany.one/2022/06/modelling-phenomics-data-for-temperature-response/

Auxins in the right space and time regulate pea fruit development

The work by Ozga et al. has shown how indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 4-chloro-indole-3-acetic acid (4-Cl-IAA), gibberellin (GA), and ethylene contribute to pea seed development by dissecting the different tissues for the analysis of the response in addition to the interaction of pea auxin receptors with the Aux/IAA repressors, and identified a complex tissue-specific hormonal network.

https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/73/12/3831/6617625

Researchers reveal how an insect-eating plant uses rain energy to power its traps

Scientists have uncovered the deadly workings of a carnivorous plant.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220803074900.htm

Mesophyll conductance is unaffected by expression of Arabidopsis PIP1 aquaporins in the plasmalemma of Nicotiana

In an attempt to improve membrane permeability to CO2, and increase photosynthesis in tobacco, Clarke et al. generated transgenic lines in Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Petite Havana carrying either the Arabidopsis PIP1;2 (AtPIP1;2) or PIP1;4 (AtPIP1;4) gene driven by the constitutive dual 2x35S CMV promoter. From a collection of independent T0 transgenics, two T2 lines from each gene were characterized, with western blots confirming increased total aquaporin protein abundance in the AtPIP1;2 tobacco lines. Transient expression of AtPIP1;2-mGFP6 and AtPIP1;4-mGFP6 fusions in Nicotiana benthamiana identified that both AtPIP1;2 and AtPIP1;4 localize to the plasmalemma. Despite achieving ectopic production and correct localization, gas exchange measurements combined with carbon isotope discrimination measurements detected no increase in mesophyll conductance or CO2 assimilation rate in the tobacco lines expressing AtPIP.

https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/73/11/3625/6532684

Visualization of in vivo protein–protein interactions in plants

In this review, we examine some of the applicable techniques to measure PPIs (protein–protein interaction) in planta as well as recent combinatorial advances of PPI methods to measure the formation of higher order complexes with an emphasis on in vivo imaging techniques. We compare the different methods and discuss their benefits and potential pitfalls to facilitate the selection of appropriate techniques by providing a comprehensive overview of how to measure in vivo PPIs in plants.

https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/73/12/3866/6565416

Connecting rhythmic gene circuits to metabolism explains the slow growth rate of a slow-clock mutant

A model designed to study circadian effects on physiology becomes more broadly useful when the clock regulates metabolites.

https://botany.one/2022/08/connecting-rhythmic-gene-circuits-to-metabolism-explains-the-slow-growth-rate-of-a-slow-clock-mutant/

Photosynthesis on the far side of the rainbow

Light you cannot see, in the infrared part of the spectrum, is surprisingly important for plant photosynthesis.

https://botany.one/2022/08/photosynthesis-on-the-far-side-of-the-rainbow/

Signaling 'stressed-out' plants

As plants experience multiple stressors from heat, drought and flooding because of extreme weather events, a plant scientist recently discovered a new way of measuring whether they are stressed out.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/08/220801161112.htm

Metabolic, physiological and anatomical responses of soybean plants under water deficit and high temperature condition

It is thus important to understand how current cultivated crops respond to stress conditions. Here we investigated how four soybean cultivars respond to water deficit and high temperature isolated or in combination at metabolic, physiological, and anatomical levels.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-21035-4

Root alkaline switch

Using a pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, Guo et al. first demonstrate in vivo that the endogenous ‘danger signal’ peptide Pep1, which is perceived at the cell surface by PEPRs (PEP1 receptors), is responsible for this elevation in the pH of the usually slightly acidic apoplast, particularly around the root quiescent centre. Pep1 also reduces the size of the meristem.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-022-01250-7

Decoding cold-induced Ca²⁺ spikes

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-022-01233-8

Glandular trichomes of medicinal plants: types, separation and purification, biological activities

Glandular trichomes (GTs) are one of the epidermal tissues of medicinal plants which
function in the synthesis, storage, and secretion of secondary metabolites. The active
ingredients of Chinese medicinal materials are mostly secondary metabolites of
plants. Accordingly, it is of great research value to explore the quality of medicinal
materials using the GTs of medicinal plants as the starting point.

http://bp.ueb.cas.cz/pdfs/bpl/2022/01/35.pdf

The role of methyl salicylate in plant growth under stress conditions

Methyl salicylate is a volatile compound, the synthesis of which takes place via the
salicylic acid pathway in plants. Both compounds can be involved in the
development of systemic acquired resistance and they play their role partly
independently. Salicylic acid transport has an important role in long-distance
signalling, but methyl salicylate has also been suggested as a phloem-based mobile
signal, which can be demethylated to form salicylic acid.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S017616172200195X