Selected reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes in common bean after Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola and Botrytis cinerea infection

Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Korona plants were inoculated with the bacteria Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Psp), necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea (Bc) or with both pathogens sequentially. The aim of the experiment was to determine how plants cope with multiple infection with pathogens having different attack strategy. Possible suppression of the non-specific infection with the necrotrophic fungus Bc by earlier Psp inoculation was examined. Concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anion (O2 -) and H2O2 and activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were determined 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after inoculation. The measurements were done for ROS cytosolic fraction and enzymatic cytosolic or apoplastic fraction. Infection with Psp caused significant increase in ROS levels since the beginning of experiment. Activity of the apoplastic enzymes also increased remarkably at the beginning of experiment in contrast to the cytosolic ones. Cytosolic SOD and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD) activities achieved the maximum values 48 h after treatment. Additional forms of the examined enzymes after specific Psp infection were identified; however, they were not present after single Bc inoculation. Subsequent Bc infection resulted only in changes of H2O2 and SOD that occurred to be especially important during plant–pathogen interaction. Cultivar Korona of common bean is considered to be resistant to Psp and mobilises its system upon infection with these bacteria. We put forward a hypothesis that the extent of defence reaction was so great that subsequent infection did not trigger significant additional response

The effect of temperature, light and calcium carbonate on seed germination and radicle growth of the polycarpic perennal Galium cracoviense (Rubiaceae), a narrow endemic species from southern Poland

Germination responses of Galium cracoviense Ehrend. (Rubiaceae), a narrow endemic species from southern Poland, were tested in light and dark conditions at three constant temperatures (5, 10, or 22°C), before and after cold-wet stratification. Additionally, seeds were germinated under different calcium carbonate (CaCO3) concentrations (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 mM/L CaCO3) at 22°C in light. The high germination capacity of seeds incubated at different temperatures, shortly after collection, already suggested the absence of dormancy in this species. Thus, the seeds are ready to germinate immediately in the field when water resources are available and the temperature is adequate. Light was a significant factor for G. cracoviense; more seeds germinated in light than in darkness at all temperatures tested. Cold stratification decreased germination especially at higher temperatures. The light requirement for G. cracoviense germination ensures their successful germination on or near the soil surface, and in cracks and crevices in limestone, when temperature and edaphic conditions are favourable. Seeds of this species show temperature enforced dormancy throughout the winter. Germination was significantly affected by calcium carbonate. Non-germinated seeds germinated well after being transferred from higher CaCO3 concentrations to distilled water. The results indicate that the seeds of this species can endure CaCO3 stress without losing their viability and start germination once CaCO3 concentration is reduced. It can be concluded that the seeds of this species require lower Ca2+ ion concentration, moderate temperatures and the presence of light to germinate

A review of the conservation ecology of round-leaf Pomaderris Pomaderris vacciniifolia F. Muell. ex Reissek (Rhamnaceae)

Round-leaf Pomaderris Pomaderris vacciniifolia F. Muell. ex Reissek (Rhamnaceae) is a Victorian endemic shrub listed as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and critically endangeredunder the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. A review of the available literature for P. vacciniifolia indicated most information is anecdotal or found in unpublished works. Better understanding of the ecology of P. vacciniifolia may help explain why it is vulnerable, and enhance future management. Future research should focus towards better understanding of P. vacciniifolia habitat, reproductive ecology, seed dispersal mechanisms and competitive ability and how these compare with more common sympatric congeners, to determine whether any differences could explain the relative success of these species. Targeted searches for this species on public and private land are warranted to reveal additional populations and fully appreciate the distribution of this species. (The Victorian Naturalist 131 (2) 2014, 44-51)

Changes in antioxidant enzyme activities in Pinus sylvestris and Larix decidua seedlings after Melolontha melolontha attack

Plants are constantly exposed to the influence of biotic and abiotic stress factors that significantly affect the induction of resistance responses. Biotic factors include bacteria, fungi and insects such as the common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha) that harm many tree species, including pine and larch. The adult beetles damage needles, while the larvae (grubs) feed on roots. The aim of the experiment was to determine how plants cope with the damage caused by these insects. The activity of antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined three and six weeks after the insect-induced damage and the results show that the peroxidase activity, as measured with guaiacol (GPOD), was higher in the damaged roots of larch. The POD activity measured with syringaldazine (SPOD) was slightly higher in damaged pine needles as well as pine roots. SOD activity was higher in the damaged roots of both species as compared to the needles. It is believed that changes in the activity of POD and SOD as well as the presence of another form of SOD in the roots of larch, indicate direct involvement of these enzymes in the plants’ response to damage caused by M. melolontha

Box-ironbark pre- and post-fire floristic data set

<div>Pre- and post-fire floristic data collected from 15 landscapes in a box-ironbark forest in south-east Australia. Within each landscape, eight study plots were surveyed for frequency of occurrence of vascular plant species. Six landscapes were given a prescribed burn the following autumn, six were given a prescribed burn the following spring, and three landscapes were left as unburnt control landscapes. All landscapes were the resurveyed for vascular plants three years after initial surveys. This data set also includes species name and authority, species life-form category, and a classification of species rarity based on frequency of occurrence in the landscape.</div><div><br></div>Data were collected as part of the Box-Ironbark Experimental Mosaic Burning Project, which was funded by the Australian State Government of Victoria’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (North West Region and Project Hawkeye), and Parks Victoria. Research was conducted under Department of Sustainability and Environment Scientific Research Permit No. 10005470 (2010), and Department of Environment and Primary Industries Scientific Research Permit No. 10007003 (2013)