Salt-mediated changes in leaf mesophyll cells of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. plants

Five-week-old tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) cv. Perkoz grown in pots containing garden soil in a growth chamber were submitted to 50 or 150 mM NaCl for 1 h, 2 and 5 days. Tomato leaf anatomy generally did not change after short time salinity, except 5-day-treatment with 150 mM NaCl, where changed cell shape (shrunk and deformed) simultaneously with increased volume of intercellular spaces (IS) were observed. Although leaf hydration (H) depleted only 1 h after 150 mM NaCl treatment both salt concentrations generated two coexisting populations of salt-affected mesophyll cells: (i) slightly-affected (Sl-A) which showed incipient plasmolysis or slightly changed shapes, and (ii) severely-affected (Sv-A) which showed severe plasmolysis; serious deformation of cell shape or disorganization including cell degeneration. In Sl-A cells salinity changed location and shape of chloroplasts which were: more rounded, with oversized starch grains (SG) (2d) or more flat (5d). Salt-mediated changes were becoming more distinguished and pronounced with length of 150 mM NaCl treatment. The amount of salt-affected cells was changing during the experiment and depended on the salt concentration. In 50 mM-treated plants salt-affected cells appeared 1 h after treatment (~40%) and raised up to 78% on 2nd day, however the population of Sl-A cells dominated. In 150 mM NaCl-treated plants the percentage of affected cells raised during the experiment from 75% to 99%. Firstly Sl-A cells dominated, but on the 5th day the majority was Sv-A. Salt-affected cells were distributed quite evenly in palisade or spongy mesophyll, except 2 d after treatment with 50 mM NaCl, when their number was higher in the palisade mesophyll. Sv-A cells in the spongy mesophyll were located mostly near the bundle while in the palisade mesophyll more irregularly. Different susceptibility of cells to salt stress might be the consequence of an unequal distribution of osmotic stress and subsequent ionic stress or physiological state of cells

Improving drought and salinity tolerance in barley by application of salicylic acid and potassium nitrate

AbstractGrowth and physiological activities of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Gustoe) grown in soil cultures were evaluated to recognize the ameliorative role of salicylic acid (SA) and KNO3 against the negative effects of salt and water deficit stresses. Barley plants were subjected to three levels of NaCl (50, 100 and 150mM), three levels of water stress (80%, 70% and 50% of the soil water content (SWC) and the combination of 150mM NaCl+50μM SA, 150mM NaCl+10mM KNO3, 50% SWC+50μM SA and 50% SWC+10mM KNO3 for two weeks. Salt and water deficit stresses reduced the shoot growth, leaf photosynthetic pigments, K+ contents and provoked oxidative stress in leaves confirmed by considerable changes in soluble carbohydrate, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and Na+ contents. Leaf soluble protein of salt and water deficit treated plants was unaffected. The Na+/K+ ratio increased with increasing salt and water deficit treated plants. Application of 50μM SA or 10mM KNO3 to150mM NaCl and/or 50% SWC treated plants improved these attributes under salt and water stresses. Soluble carbohydrates in stressed plants may have a significant role in osmotic adjustment. It can be concluded that the addition of SA or KNO3 can ameliorate the oxidative stress in barley stressed plants. This ameliorative effect might be maintained through low MDA contents and decreased Na+/K+ ratio in leaves. This study also provided evidence for the ability of barley cultivation in salt and water deficit soils due to its capacity for osmotic adjustment

Towards 'S4' Molybdenum with Two Labile Sites: New Ligands for Molybdenum Bisdithiolenes

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) catalysts are used for hydrodesulfurization processes, needed for the removal of sulfur from oil feedstocks. The commonly accepted active site of MoS2 is believed to have a S4 pyramidal geometry with molybdenum (IV) at the apex. This work is interested in small molecules as models. Recent work has shown that one ligand can be removed from a molybdenum trisdithiolene by reacting the metal complex with an olefin creates a labile chelate cap. The resulting structure resembles the active site of interest. The present contribution will show approaches to molybdenum bisdithiolenes with one or two labile solvent molecules. The use of acetonitrile, adiponitrile, isobutyronitrile, and oxalate has been investigated. A complex containing two different labile moieties (tetrahydrothiophene, acetonitrile) was crystallographically characterized. Other nitrile molybdenum complexes were monitored using NMR spectroscopy. Two complexes have been characterized with an oxalato ligand; a single unit, and a dimer.MAS

Rubus flora of the Durowo Forest District (northern Wielkopolska, Poland)

The Rubus flora of northern Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) is not yet fully discovered, but the recent studies on the genus Rubus suggest that it is clearly not as rich as in case of southern Wielkopolska. The results of the field observations show that the area of the Durowo Forest District contains 14 representatives of the genus Rubus, out of which the presence of four taxa has already been reported and confirmed. Only Rubus czarnunensis, species endemic to Poland and mentioned in this area in the early 20th century, was not rediscovered. The presence of two species, previously unknown in this area, R. nemoralis and R. seebergensis, have shifted their range limits by 16 km and 30 km to the north, respectively. A statistically significant higher number of bramble species occurred in pine forest growing on fertile deciduous forest habitats

Rubus flora of the Durowo Forest District (northern Wielkopolska, Poland)

The Rubus flora of northern Wielkopolska (Greater Poland) is not yet fully discovered, but the recent studies on the genus Rubus suggest that it is clearly not as rich as in case of southern Wielkopolska. The results of the field observations show that the area of the Durowo Forest District contains 14 representatives of the genus Rubus, out of which the presence of four taxa has already been reported and confirmed. Only Rubus czarnunensis, species endemic to Poland and mentioned in this area in the early 20th century, was not rediscovered. The presence of two species, previously unknown in this area, R. nemoralis and R. seebergensis, have shifted their range limits by 16 km and 30 km to the north, respectively. A statistically significant higher number of bramble species occurred in pine forest growing on fertile deciduous forest habitats

Analysis of the Magnetic Field Influence on the Rheological Properties of Healthy Persons Blood

The influence of magnetic field on whole blood rheological properties remains a weakly known phenomenon. An in vitro analysis of the magnetic field influence on the rheological properties of healthy persons blood is presented in this work. The study was performed on blood samples taken from 25 healthy nonsmoking persons and included comparative analysis of the results of both the standard rotary method (flow curve measurement) and the oscillatory method known also as the mechanical dynamic analysis, performed before and after exposition of blood samples to magnetic field. The principle of the oscillatory technique lies in determining the amplitude and phase of the oscillations of the studied sample subjected to action of a harmonic force of controlled amplitude and frequency. The flow curve measurement involved determining the shear rate dependence of blood viscosity. The viscoelastic properties of the blood samples were analyzed in terms of complex blood viscosity. All the measurements have been performed by means of the Contraves LS40 rheometer. The data obtained from the flow curve measurements complemented by hematocrit and plasma viscosity measurements have been analyzed using the rheological model of Quemada. No significant changes of the studied rheological parameters have been found

Genetic characterisation of four strains of Nile tilapia (Oreochromie Niloticus L.) using microsatellite markers

Four domesticated strains of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) were genetically characterized using 14 microsatellite markers and 64 animals per strain. Two strains, Chitralada (AIT) and International Development Research Centers (IDRC) were obtained from the AIT institute, Bangkok, Thailand. The GIFT strain (5th generation) came from NAGRI, Thailand, and the GÖTT strain was supplied by the University of Göttingen, Germany. The average numbers of alleles per marker were 5.0 (GÖTT), 5.4 (AIT), 5.6 (IDRC) and 7.5 (GIFT). Private alleles were found at all markers with the exception of two. No fixation of alleles was found at any marker. Population differentiation, FST, was 0.178 (great genetic differentiation) and confirmed grouping of the animals in strains. The expected level of heterozygosity ranged from 0.624 to 0.711, but the observed level of heterozygosity significantly deviated from the expected level in three strains. This was probably because of small population size. Moderate to great genetic differentiation was found between strains. A phylogenetic tree reflected the strains known histories. Application of the Weitzman approach showed that all strains have added value for the total genetic diversity and thus should be retaine