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Promoters from kin1 and cor6.6, two Arabidopsis thaliana low-temperature- and ABA-inducible genes, direct strong beta-glucuronidase expression in guard cells, pollen and young developing seeds.

The ability of most higher plants to withstand freezing can be enhanced by cold acclimation, although the freezing tolerance of plant tissues is also affected by their developmental stage. In addition, low temperature has pleiotropic effects on many plant developmental processes such as vernalization. The interaction between plant development and low temperature implies that some genes are regulated by both environmental factors and developmental cues. Although a number of cold-inducible genes from plants have been identified, information concerning their regulation during plant development is limited. In order to understand their developmental regulation and obtain possible clues as to function, the promoters of kin1 and cor6.6, two cold- and abscisic acid (ABA)-regulated genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, were fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS)-coding sequence and the resulting constructs were used to transform tobacco and A. thaliana. Transgenic plants with either the kin1 or cor6.6 promoter showed strong GUS expression in pollen, developing seeds, trichomes and, most interestingly, in guard cells. During pollen development, maximum GUS activity was found in mature pollen. In contrast, the maximum GUS activity during seed development was during early embryogenesis. These patterns of expression distinguish kin1 and cor6.6 from related lea genes which are strongly expressed during late embryogenesis. There was no major qualitative difference in patterns of GUS expression between kin1 and cor6.6 promoters and the results were similar for transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis. Considering the results described, as well as those in an accompanying paper (Wang et al., 1995, Plant Mol Biol 28: 605-617 (this issue), we suggest that osmotic potential might be a major factor in regulating the expression of kin1 and cor6.6 during several developmental processes. The implication of the results for possible function of the gene products is discussed.

Abscisic Acid↗

Biochemistry and molecular biology of chromoplast development.

Plant cells contain a unique class of organelles, designated the plastids, which distinguish them from animal cells. According to the largely accepted endosymbiotic theory of evolution, plastids are descendants of prokaryotes. This process requires several adaptative changes which involve the maintenance and the expression of part of the plastid genome, as well as the integration of the plastid activity to the cellular metabolism. This is illustrated by the diversity of plastids encountered in plant cells. For instance, in tissues undergoing color changes, i.e., flowers and fruits, the chromoplasts produce and accumulate excess carotenoids. In this paper we attempt to review the basic aspects of chromoplast development.

Cell Differentiation↗

A novel function of abscisic acid in the regulation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) root growth and development.

Plant roots retain developmental plasticity and respond to environmental stresses or exogenous plant growth regulators by undergoing profound morphological and physiological alteration. In this study, we investigated the effects of exogenous ABA on root growth and development in Taichung native 1 (TN1) rice. Exogenous application of 10 microM ABA leads to swelling, root hair formation and initiation of lateral root primodia in the tips of young, seminal rice roots. Cortex cells increased in size and were irregularly shaped. ABA treatment significantly increased 2, 3, 5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) reductase ability in the root tips and the exudation rate of xylem sap. In addition, the K(+) ion content in xylem sap increased nearly 2-fold, but not that of Ca(2+) or Mg(2+). Analysis of proteins expressed in the root tips identified several ABA-induced or -repressed proteins, including actin depolymerization factor (ADF), late embryo abundant protein (LEA), putative steroid membrane-binding protein, ferredoxin thionine reductase and calcium-binding protein. The effects of ABA on root morphogenesis change were Ca(2+) dependent and required the participation of calmodulin and de novo protein synthesis. A model is presented that illustrates how ABA acts through a potential cellular and signal transduction mechanism to induce morphological and physiological changes in rice roots.

Abscisic Acid↗

Endosperm: an integrator of seed growth and development.

Plant reproduction relies on interactions between parental and zygotic components. Elaborate reciprocal signaling pathways enable coordination of the genetic programs between these components. A first and important step in this communication is the tight control of cell cycle events in the gametes prior to fertilization. This prepares for coordinated fertilization and the initiation of seed development. The dialog between the various actors of reproduction extends after fertilization, with the endosperm taking a central role. Importantly, the endosperm mediates a maternal input that is based on memory of the transcriptional states of imprinted genes, which is crucial for harmonious seed growth. Our current knowledge suggests that the endosperm is an integrator of the different components and genetic programs that are involved in seed development.

Plants↗

Development of plants from leaf discs of variegated Coleus and its relation to patterns of leaf chlorosis.

Leaf discs approximately 8 mm in diameter taken from green and from chlorotic areas of variegated leaves of Coleus were grown in light under sterile conditions in a mineral salt, sucrose, vitamin medium supplemented with auxin and cytokinin. Green shoots, which later formed roots, grew from both green and chlorotic discs in media containing suitable amounts of auxin and cytokinin. None developed in media supplemented with auxin alone or with cytokinin alone. Discs with young plants were transferred to soil. Plants that grew varied widely from those with no chlorosis to those with more chlorosis than the original variety from which the discs were taken. Plants grown from discs taken from green areas of leaves with chlorosis varied in patterns of chlorosis as much as those that grew from discs from chlorotic areas of leaves.

Anthocyanins↗

Plant transformation technology. Developments and applications.

Plant transformation has its roots in the research on Agrobacterium that was being undertaken in the early 1980s. The last two decades have seen significant developments in plant transformation technology, such that a large number of transgenic crop plants have now been released for commercial production. Advances in the technology have been due to development of a range of Agrobacterium-mediated and direct DNA delivery techniques, along with appropriate tissue culture techniques for regenerating whole plants from plant cells or tissues in a large number of species. In addition, parallel developments in molecular biology have greatly extended the range of investigations to which plant transformation technology can be applied. Research in plant transformation is concentrating now not so much on the introduction of DNA into plant cells, but rather more on the problems associated with stable integration and reliable expression of the DNA once it has been integrated.

Electroporation↗

Coliform aerosols emitted by sewage treatment plants.

Development of the science of aerobiology has furnished a tool for the investigation of potential sources of microbial aerosols. An investigation of aerosols emitted by trickling-filter sewage treatment plants revealed that coliforms were indeed emitted and have been sampled to a distance of 0.8 mile (1.2 kilometers) downwind. Factors affecting survival of Escherichia coli are presented.

Aerosols↗

KDC1, a novel carrot root hair K+ channel. Cloning, characterization, and expression in mammalian cells.

Potassium is an essential nutrient which plays an important role in many aspects of plant growth and development. Plants have developed a number of highly specific mechanisms to take up potassium from the soil; these include the expression of K(+) transporters and potassium channels in root cells. Despite the fact that root epidermal and hair cells are in direct contact with the soil, the role of these tissues in K(+) uptake is not well understood. Here we report the molecular cloning and functional characterization of a novel potassium channel KDC1 which forms part of a new subfamily of plant K(in) channels. Kdc1 was isolated from carrot root RNA and in situ hybridization experiments show Kdc1 to be highly expressed in root hair cells. Expressing the KDC1 protein in Chinese hamster ovary cells identified it as a voltage and pH-dependent inwardly rectifying potassium channel. An electrophysiological analysis of carrot root hair protoplasts confirmed the biophysical properties of the Kdc1 gene product (KDC1) in the heterologous expression system. KDC1 thus represents a major K(+) uptake channel in carrot root hair cells.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The distribution of phospholipase D in developing and mature plants.

1. The distribution of phospholipase D (phosphatidylcholine phosphatido-hydrolase, EC 3.1.4.4) was examined in the tissues of a number of plants and seeds. 2. The highest activities were found in various swollen storage tissues of certain plants: cabbage, central stalk; cauliflower, flower; celery, swollen leaf stalk; Kohl rabi, swollen stem; carrot, root; pea and marrow, seed. 3. Appreciable activity was retained in pea seeds for at least 1 year after drying. After germination and growth in the dark the total activity present in the cotyledons and also in the whole seedling decreased. 4. In the growing pea seedling (7 days old), about 3% of the total activity was in the plumule, 9% in the root and the remainder in the cotyledons. However, the activity in the root on a dry-weight basis was higher than that in the cotyledons. In both the root and the plumule the activity on a wet- or a dry-weight basis was highest in the growing tip. 5. The activity per dry weight in the roots and aerial parts of pea plants declined to low values as growth continued, but roots struck from cuttings of mature plants showed the same high activity as found in roots from young seedlings with cotyledons attached. 6. The total phospholipids present in the cotyledons of pea seeds were depleted on germination and growth. Of the individual phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine showed the same loss in 11 days as the whole phospholipid fraction, whereas phosphatidylinositol was decreased to a greater extent and cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine were not decreased. There was no increase of phosphatidic acid, as might have been expected if the phospholipids had disappeared through phospholipase D hydrolysis. 7. It is concluded that phospholipase D in plant storage tissues and seeds may be related to the rapid growth involved in their formation rather than being necessary for the utilization of their food reserve substances.

Darkness↗

[Mycorrhizal diversity and its significance in plant growth and development].

Mycorrhizal diversity, including morphological, species and functional diversity, is an integrative component of biodiversities. Many experiments showed that mycorrhizal diversity played an important role in the origin, evolution, distribution, survival, growth and development of plants. But, mycorrhizal diversity is dependent on plant diversity. It was suggested that mycorrhizal and plant diversities stimulated or retarded each other. The significance of mycorrhizal diversity in plant diversity was also discussed.

Biodiversity↗

In vitro development of plants from microspores of rice.

Rice (Oryza sativa L., 2n=24) anthers containing microspores in the early-uninucleate to first-mitosis stages were induced successfully to develop into plants in vitro through an intermediary step of callus formation. Callus initiation occurred with highest frequency in anthers containing mid-uninucleate imcrospores. The callus derived from different stages of microspore development differed in the potential to differentiate into plants. The plants regenerated from pollen callus were predominantly haploid or diploid; polyploid and aneuploid plants were relatively infrequent. The first division of the uninucleate microspores was asymmetrical, resulting in the formation of large vegetative and small generative nuclei. The vegetative nucleus divided repeatedly and assumed the major role in the formation of callus, whereas the generative nucleus degenerated rapidly. Simultaneous division of the two nuclei was observed in a few pollen grains. Nuclear fusion during the very initial stages of pollen development was postulated to account for the occurrence of the diploid and polyploid plants.

Cell Differentiation↗

How does auxin enhance cell elongation? Roles of auxin-binding proteins and potassium channels in growth control.

Elongation growth and a several other phenomena in plant development are controlled by the plant hormone auxin. A number of recent discoveries shed light on one of the classical problems of plant physiology: the perception of the auxin signal. Two types of auxin receptors are currently known: the AFB/TIR family of F box proteins and ABP1. ABP1 appears to control membrane transport processes (H+ secretion, osmotic adjustment) while the TIR/AFBs have a role in auxin-induced gene expression. Models are proposed to explain how membrane transport (e.g., K+ and H+ fluxes) can act as a cross-linker for the control of more complex auxin responses such as the classical stimulation of cell elongation.

Arabidopsis Proteins↗

Size symmetry of competition alters biomass-density relationships.

As crowded populations of plants develop, the growth of some plants is accompanied by the death of others, a process called density-dependent mortality or 'self-thinning'. During the course of density-dependent mortality, the relationship between total population biomass (B) and surviving plant density (N) is allometric: B = aN(b). Essentially, increasing population biomass can be achieved only through decreasing population density. Variation in the allometric coefficient a among species has been recognized for many years and is important for management, assessment of productivity and carbon budgets, but the causes of this variation have not been elucidated. Individual-based models predict that size-dependent competition causes variation in the allometric coefficient. Using transgenic Arabidopsis with decreased plasticity, we provide experimental evidence that morphological plasticity of wild-type populations decreases the size asymmetry of competition for light and thereby decreases density-dependent mortality. This decrease in density-dependent mortality results in more biomass at a given density under size-symmetric compared with size-asymmetric competition.

Arabidopsis↗

A microRNA as a translational repressor of APETALA2 in Arabidopsis flower development.

Plant microRNAs (miRNAs) show a high degree of sequence complementarity to, and are believed to guide the cleavage of, their target messenger RNAs. Here, I show that miRNA172, which can base-pair with the messenger RNA of a floral homeotic gene, APETALA2, regulates APETALA2 expression primarily through translational inhibition. Elevated miRNA172 accumulation results in floral organ identity defects similar to those in loss-of-function apetala2 mutants. Elevated levels of mutant APETALA2 RNA with disrupted miRNA172 base pairing, but not wild-type APETALA2 RNA, result in elevated levels of APETALA2 protein and severe floral patterning defects. Therefore, miRNA172 likely acts in cell-fate specification as a translational repressor of APETALA2 in Arabidopsis flower development.

Antisense Elements (Genetics)↗

Microgravity effects on water supply and substrate properties in porous matrix root support systems.

The control of water content and water movement in granular substrate-based plant root systems in microgravity is a complex problem. Improper water and oxygen delivery to plant roots has delayed studies of the effects of microgravity on plant development and the use of plants in physical and mental life support systems. Our international effort (USA, Russia and Bulgaria) has upgraded the plant growth facilities on the Mir Orbital Station (OS) and used them to study the full life cycle of plants. The Bulgarian-Russian-developed Svet Space Greenhouse (SG) system was upgraded on the Mir OS in 1996. The US developed Gas Exchange Measurement System (GEMS) greatly extends the range of environmental parameters monitored. The Svet-GEMS complex was used to grow a fully developed wheat crop during 1996. The growth rate and development of these plants compared well with earth grown plants indicating that the root zone water and oxygen stresses that have limited plant development in previous long-duration experiments have been overcome. However, management of the root environment during this experiment involved several significant changes in control settings as the relationship between the water delivery system, water status sensors, and the substrate changed during the growth cycles.

Carbon Dioxide↗