Determination of chilling temperature effects on nutrient elements composition and distribution in cole (Brassica oleracea L. Cv. Acephala) using the WDXRF spectroscopic technique

Cole (Brassica oleracea L. cv. Acephala) is a naturally very hardy species to (at) chilling temperatures. It has been observed that the plant species can be viable even under snow during a cold winter. The cole seedlings were grown in soil for one month. Chilling temperatures were then applied to these seedlings under controlled conditions. These seedlings were subsequently, cut into root tip, root middle part, root upper part, hypocotyl, epicotyl, petiole and leaf and sampled randomly. Concentrations of inorganic elements (Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe, and Mg) in the parts were measured by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry to test chilling temperature effects on nutrient accumulation and distribution within these seedlings. Results indicated that the distribution of some inorganic elements among organs (roots, stem and leaves) of cole plants is significantly altered by chilling stress. There was an association between chilling temperatures and distributions, and accumulations of Ca, Fe, P, Cl, S especially Si and Al in cole seedlings. In addition, the WDXRF technique is a simple, fast, economic and accurate tool for biological studies related to the determining of the amount of plant nutritions in ppm level

Palaeozoic-Recent geological development and uplift of the Amanos Mountains (S Turkey) in the critically located northwesternmost corner of the Arabian continent

<p>We have carried out a several-year-long study of the Amanos Mountains, on the basis of which we present new sedimentary and structural evidence, which we combine with existing data, to produce the first comprehensive synthesis in the regional geological setting. The ca. N-S-trending Amanos Mountains are located at the northwesternmost edge of the Arabian plate, near the intersection of the African and Eurasian plates. Mixed siliciclastic-carbonate sediments accumulated on the north-Gondwana margin during the Palaeozoic. Triassic rift-related sedimentation was followed by platform carbonate deposition during Jurassic-Cretaceous. Late Cretaceous was characterised by platform collapse and southward emplacement of melanges and a supra-subduction zone ophiolite. Latest Cretaceous transgressive shallow-water carbonates gave way to deeper-water deposits during Palaeocene-Eocene. Eocene southward compression, reflecting initial collision, resulted in open folding, reverse faulting and duplexing. Fluvial, lagoonal and shallow-marine carbonates accumulated during Late Oligocene(?)-Early Miocene, associated with basaltic magmatism. Intensifying collision during Mid-Miocene initiated a foreland basin that then infilled with deep-water siliciclastic gravity flows. Late Miocene-Early Pliocene compression created mountain-sized folds and thrusts, verging E in the north but SE in the south. The resulting surface uplift triggered deposition of huge alluvial outwash fans in the west. Smaller alluvial fans formed along both mountain flanks during the Pleistocene after major surface uplift ended. Pliocene-Pleistocene alluvium was tilted towards the mountain front in the west. Strike-slip/transtension along the East Anatolian Transform Fault and localised sub-horizontal Quaternary basaltic volcanism in the region reflect regional transtension during Late Pliocene-Pleistocene (<4 Ma).</p

Revisiting the optical properties of the FMO protein

We review the optical properties of the FMO complex as found by spectroscopic studies of the Qy band over the last two decades. This article emphasizes the different methods used, both experimental and theoretical, to elucidate the excitonic structure and dynamics of this pigment–protein complex

Cold acclimation of SnRK2.2 kinases mutant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, plant-specific serine/threonine kinases (SnRK2 kinases) play a central role in sulfur metabolism. However, their role in environmental stress has not been clearly understood. Cold stress is one of the most important factors that limit the growth, productivity, and development of photosynthetic organisms. In this report, the effect of cold stress on some physiological parameters were investigated in SnRK2.2 mutant and wild type C. reinhardtii culture. Our results showed that cold stress had significantly enhanced lipid peroxidation rate in wild type, while no significant change was observed in SnRK2.2 mutant culture. Our data also indicated a decline in Rubisco protein amount of wild type culture under low temperature exposure. Low temperature reduced glutathione reductase (GR) activity in the wild type, while GR activity was enhanced in SnRK2.2 mutant. This result indicated the potential of SnRK2 kinase in cold acclimation process. © 2019 Japanese Society of Phycolog