Svojstva furnirskih ploča proizvedenih s ureaformaldehidnim adhezivom modificiranim nanocelulozom i mikrocelulozom

Urea-formaldehyde adhesives are widely used in the wood-based materials industry. The study investigates the possibility of using cellulosic particles as a filler that modifies the properties of the resin and consequently improves the properties of plywood. Moreover, the study also examines the differences between microcellulose and nanocellulose used as a filler for UF adhesive. Based on the investigations, it was found that the addition of MFC and NCC significantly affected the curing process and rheological behaviour of adhesive mixtures. Modification led to increase of viscosity and extension of a gel time caused by lowering solid content of the resin. The experimental and reference plywood were tested in terms of bonding quality and mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity and modulus of rigidity in accordance with applicable standards. The results of the tests confirmed that both the amount and the type of modifier added to the resin had a significant effect on the properties of plywood. The bonding quality and the above mentioned mechanical properties improved in all variants of modification; however the most effective was the addition of NCC in the amount of 10 %/100 g of solid resin. The slight decrease of formaldehyde emission was only observed for 5 % cellulosic particles added to 100 g of solid UF.Urea-formaldehidni (UF) adhezivi imaju široku primjenu u industriji materijala na bazi drva. U radu je opisano istraživanje mogućnosti upotrebe celuloznih čestica kao punila koje mijenja svojstva smole i posljedično poboljšava svojstva furnirske ploče. Nadalje, u istraživanju su ispitane razlike između mikroceluloze (MFC) i nanoceluloze (NCC) koje su upotrijebljene kao punilo za adheziv na bazi UF adheziva. Na temelju ispitivanja utvrđeno je da MFC i NCC dodatci znatno utječu na postupak stvrdnjavanja i reološko ponašanje adhezivnih smjesa. Modifikacija je rezultirala povećanjem viskoznosti i produljenjem vremena geliranja uzrokovanoga smanjenjem sadržaja čvrste smole. Ispitani su kvaliteta vezanja i mehanička svojstva eksperimentalne i referentne furnirske ploče poput modula elastičnosti i modula krutosti, sukladno odgovarajućim normama. Rezultati ispitivanja potvrdili su da i količina i vrsta modifikatora dodanoga u smolu imaju znatan utjecaj na svojstva furnirske ploče. Kvaliteta vezanja i spomenuta mehanička svojstva poboljšana su pri svim varijantama modifikacija, no najučinkovitije je bilo dodavanje NCC-a u količini od 10 % na 100 g čvrste smole. Blago smanjenje emisije formaldehida uočeno je samo za 5 % celuloznih čestica dodanih u 100 g čvrstog UF adheziva

Breaking seed dormancy of Astragalus penduliflorus Lam.

Astragalus penduliflorus Lam. is an alpine-subalpine species. Several isolated populations occur in Europe: in the Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians and in central Sweden. Astragalus penduliflorus is considered as critically endangered species in Poland, growing only at the locality in the Smytnia Valley, in the Western Tatra Mountains. The population is at risk, due to the limited reproduction caused by law rate of seed germination, periodically shortened vegetation period that prevent seed development and gnawing the aerial plant parts by deer. The aim of the study was to explain the reason for the poor germination of A. penduliflorus seeds. As a result of mechanical scarification, 100% of A. penduliflorus seeds germinated, which proved that these seeds are characterized by a water-impermeable seed coat, which classified them as hard seeds that go through physical dormancy. Results obtained in this work can be used for effective reproduction and active conservation of threatened A. penduliflorus

Odabrana kemijska i fizička svojstva drvne sječke od borovine inokulirane plijesnima Aspergillus i Penicillium

Mold fungi representing genera of Penicillium and Aspergillus commonly develop on the surface of freshly harvested wood chips during storage. As a result, they are often considered as low-quality material and intended for incineration. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of wood chips infestation with mold fungi representing genera of Aspergillus and Penicillium on their basic chemical and physical properties, such as: chemical structure (evaluated with FTIR spectroscopy), mass loss and hygroscopicity, after an incubation of 3, 6 and 9 weeks. Based on the visual assessment and ergosterol content analysis, it was found that inoculation of wood chips with molds led to the intense fungal development on their surface. However, as observed in FTIR spectra, the presence of molds caused no changes in wood chemical structure. Furthermore, no mass loss and no significant increase in the hygroscopicity of wood were observed. Therefore, pine wood chips overgrown by studied genera of fungi seem to be a valuable material for various applications.Plijesni rodova Aspergillus i Penicillium najčešće se razvijaju na površini svježe pripremljene drvne sječke tijekom skladištenja, zbog čega se takva sječka često smatra nekvalitetnim materijalom i spaljuje se. Stoga je cilj ovoga istraživanja bio istražiti utjecaj zaraženosti drvne sječke plijesnima rodova Aspergillus i Penicillium na njezina osnovna kemijska i fizička svojstva kao što su kemijska struktura (ispitano FTIR spektroskopijom), gubitak mase i higroskopnost nakon ikubacije od tri, šest i devet tjedana. Na temelju vizualne procjene i analize sadržaja ergosterola, utvrđeno je ddrvne sječke. Međutim, na FTIR spektrima je uočeno da plijesni nisu uzrokovale promjene u kemijskoj strukturi drva. Nadalje, nije uočen gubitak mase niti znatno povećanje higroskopnosti drva. Stoga se može zaključiti da je drvna sječka od borovine zaražena promatranim rodovima plijesni upotrebljiv materijal za različite primjenea je inokulacija drvne sječke plijesnima prouzročila intenzivan razvoj plijesni na površin

3-D Nucleus Architecture in Oat × Maize Addition Lines

The nucleus architecture of hybrid crop plants is not a well-researched topic, yet it can have important implications for their genetic stability and usefulness in the successful expression of agronomically desired traits. In this work we studied the spatial distribution of introgressed maize chromatin in oat maize addition lines with the number of added maize chromosomes varying from one to four. The number of chromosome additions was confirmed by genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Maize chromosome-specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to identify the added chromosomes. GISH on 3-D root and leaf nuclei was performed to assess the number, volume, and position of the maize-chromatin occupied regions. We revealed that the maize chromosome territory (CT) associations of varying degree prevailed in the double disomic lines, while CT separation was the most common distribution pattern in the double monosomic line. In all analyzed lines, the regions occupied by maize CTs were located preferentially at the nuclear periphery. A comparison between the tissues showed that the maize CTs in the leaf nuclei are positioned closer to the center of the nucleus than in the root nuclei. These findings shed more light on the processes that shape the nucleus architecture in hybrids

Functioning of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Response to Drought Stress in Oat x Maize Addition Lines

The oat × maize chromosome addition (OMA) lines, as hybrids between C3 and C4 plants, can potentially help us understand the process of C4 photosynthesis. However, photosynthesis is often affected by adverse environmental conditions, including drought stress. Therefore, to assess the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus in OMA lines under drought stress, the chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a fluorescence (CF) parameters were investigated. With optimal hydration, most of the tested OMA lines, compared to oat cv. Bingo, showed higher pigment content, and some of them were characterized by increased values of selected CF parameters. Although 14 days of drought caused a decrease of chlorophylls and carotenoids, only slight changes in CF parameters were observed, which can indicate proper photosynthetic efficiency in most of examined OMA lines compared to oat cv. Bingo. The obtained data revealed that expected changes in hybrid functioning depend more on the specific maize chromosome and its interaction with the oat genome rather than the number of retained chromosomes. OMA lines not only constitute a powerful tool for maize genomics but also are a source of valuable variation in plant breeding, and can help us to understand plant susceptibility to drought. Our research confirms more efficient functioning of hybrid photosynthetic apparatus than oat cv. Bingo, therefore contributes to raising new questions in the fields of plant physiology and biochemistry. Due to the fact that the oat genome is not fully sequenced yet, the mechanism of enhanced photosynthetic efficiency in OMA lines requires further research

Complex characterization of oat (Avena sativa L.) lines obtained by wide crossing with maize (Zea mays L.)

Background. The oat×maize addition (OMA) lines are used for mapping of the maize genome, the studies of centromere-specific histone (CENH3), gene expression, meiotic chromosome behavior and also for introducing maize C4 photosynthetic system to oat. The aim of our study was the identification and molecular-cytogenetic characterization of oat × maize hybrids. Methods. Oat DH lines and oat × maize hybrids were obtained using the wide crossing of Avena sativa L. with Zea mays L. The plants identified as having a Grande- 1 retrotransposon fragment, which produced seeds, were used for genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). Results. A total of 138 oat lines obtained by crossing of 2,314 oat plants from 80 genotypes with maize cv. Waza were tested for the presence of maize chromosomes. The presence of maize chromatin was indicated in 66 lines by amplification of the PCR product (500 bp) generated using primers specific for the maize retrotransposon Grande-1. Genomic in situ hybridization (GISH) detected whole maize chromosomes in eight lines (40%). All of the analyzed plants possessed full complement of oat chromosomes. The number of maize chromosomes differed between the OMA lines. Four OMA lines possessed two maize chromosomes similar in size, three OMA-one maize chromosome, and one OMA-four maize chromosomes. In most of the lines, the detected chromosomes were labeled uniformly. The presence of six 45S rDNA loci was detected in oat chromosomes, but none of the added maize chromosomes in any of the lines carried 45S rDNA locus. Twenty of the analyzed lines did not possess whole maize chromosomes, but the introgression of maize chromatin in the oat chromosomes. Five of 66 hybrids were shorter in height, grassy type without panicles. Twenty-seven OMA lines were fertile and produced seeds ranging in number from 1-102 (in total 613). Sixty-three fertile DH lines, out of 72 which did not have an addition of maize chromosomes or chromatin, produced seeds in the range of 1-343 (in total 3,758). Obtained DH and OMA lines were fertile and produced seeds. Discussion. In wide hybridization of oat with maize, the complete or incomplete chromosomes elimination of maize occur. Hybrids of oat and maize had a complete set of oat chromosomes without maize chromosomes, and a complete set of oat chromosomes with one to four retained maize chromosomes

Beauveria bassiana rewires molecular mechanisms related to growth and defense in tomato

Plant roots can exploit beneficial associations with soil-inhabiting microbes, promoting growth and expanding the immune capacity of the host plant. In this work, we aimed to provide new information on changes occurring in tomato interacting with the beneficial fungus Beauveria bassiana. The tomato leaf proteome revealed perturbed molecular pathways during the establishment of the plant–fungus relationship. In the early stages of colonization (5–7 d), proteins related to defense responses to the fungus were down-regulated and proteins related to calcium transport were up-regulated. At later time points (12–19 d after colonization), up-regulation of molecular pathways linked to protein/amino acid turnover and to biosynthesis of energy compounds suggests beneficial interaction enhancing plant growth and development. At the later stage, the profile of leaf hormones and related compounds was also investigated, highlighting up-regulation of those related to plant growth and defense. Finally, B. bassiana colonization was found to improve plant resistance to Botrytis cinerea, impacting plant oxidative damage. Overall, our findings further expand current knowledge on the possible mechanisms underlying the beneficial role of B. bassiana in tomato plants

Free and Cell Wall-Bound Polyamines under Long-Term Water Stress Applied at Different Growth Stages of ×<i>Triticosecale Wittm</i>

<div><p>Background</p><p>Long-stemmed and semi-dwarf cultivars of triticale were exposed to water stress at tillering, heading and anthesis stage. Quantitative determination of free and cell wall-bound polyamines, i.e. agmatine, cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, was supplemented with an analysis of quantitative relationships between free and cell wall-bound polyamines.</p><p>Results</p><p>The content of free and cell wall-bound polyamines varied depending on the development stage, both under optimal and water stress conditions. Drought-induced increase in free agmatine content was observed at all developmental stages in long-stemmed cultivar. A depletion of spermidine and putrescine was also reported in this cultivar, and spermidine was less abundant in semi-dwarf cultivar exposed to drought stress at the three analyzed developmental stages. Changes in the content of the other free polyamines did not follow a steady pattern reflecting the developmental stages. On the contrary, the content of cell wall-bound polyamines gradually increased from tillering, through heading and until anthesis period.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Water stress seemed to induce a progressive decrease in the content of free polyamines and an accumulation of cell wall-bound polyamines.</p></div