An anionic class III peroxidase from zucchini may regulate hypocotyl elongation through its auxin oxidase activity

The high number of peroxidase genes explains the description of numerous physiological functions and the fact that the in planta function of a single isoform has never been characterized yet. We analyzed in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana the localization of a zucchini isoperoxidase (APRX), previously purified thanks to its pectin binding ability. We confirmed that the protein is localized near the cell wall, mainly produced in the elongation area of the hypocotyls and respond to exogenous auxin. In addition, the ectopic overexpression of APRX induced changes in growth pattern and a significant reduction of endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) level. In agreement with these observations APRX showed an elevated in vitro auxin oxidase activity. We propose that APRX participates in the negative feedback regulation of auxin level and consequently terminates the hypocotyl elongation proces

In Vitro Preservation of Yam (Dioscorea cayenensis D. rotundata complex) for a Better Use of Genetic Resources

Among the food crops, yam takes up quantitatively the first place in the gabonese diet. Unfortunately, it can stay available only 6 to 7 months in the year because of difficulties of harvest and post- harvest. This problem is little studied in the case of Dioscorea cayenensis-D. rotundata complex. In order to optimize the use of micro tubers for the growing in green house or field, it is important to control the duration of storage before the germination. The present study concerns microtubers obtained by in vitro culture. When microtubers were harvested (after 9 months of culture) and directly transferred on a new medium without hormone, the tubers rapidly sprouted in in vitro conditions. Harvested microtubers were also stored dry in jars in sterile conditions during 2 to 18 weeks before in vitro sprouting. In this case, microtubers stored during 18 weeks sprouted more rapidly than those stored 8 weeks. The size of the tubers used for the storage had great influence on further sprouting. The upper microtubers in 25 mm can be kept to the darkness, under 50% of relative humidity, in 25C during at least 18 weeks. Sprouting is 100% whatever the substrate of culture. The plant tissue culture technique constitutes a serious alternative for the preservation of plant kinds and for the production of planting material. These techniques allow multiplying in a short time of thousands of copies of new varieties of newly created plants. These in vitro plants can be used on one hand, for the production planting material, and on the other hand for ex vitro storage of breeding grounds with decelerated growth, to struggle against genetic erosion. These results should allow improving in practice the multiplication of yam, while guaranteeing </span

Antioxidant fractions and phenolic constituents from leaves of Pluchea carolinensis and Pluchea rosea

peer reviewedAbstract: Objective: To evaluated the antioxidant potential of several polar fractions of P. carolinensis and P. rosea as well as pure chemicals, some of them quantified in both species by HPLC. Methods: The antioxidant potential of polar fractions and pure chemicals were assayed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and oxygen radical potential methods. The phenolic content was performed by using Folin–Ciocalteu’s reagent. Specific phenolic acids and flavonoids were quantified by DAD-RP-HPLC. Results: The highest DPPH antioxidant potential expressed in mg TE/gDE were frequently measured in fractions from n-butyl alcohol i.e 2 (192.1 ± 0.3); 6 (181.0 ± 0.1) of P. carolinensis and in fraction 7 (188.1 ± 5.5) of P. rosea while for ORAC (mg TE/gDE) assay fraction 2 (543.0 ± 64.6) and 4 (501.4 ± 49.7) of P. carolinensis and 3 (401.3 ± 16.1) and 6 (401.3 ± 16.1) of P. rosea showed the best results. Some flavonoids and phenolic acids were also assayed; all of them showed highest Oxygen radical absorbance capacity values. Conclusion: We report the antioxidant potential of polar fractions, as well as of some pure phenolics responsible of the antioxidant potential. Some phenolics were identified and quantified for the first time in both species. Apparently, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives contribute more significant to the total antioxidant potential of the extracts

Special symposium: In vitro plant recalcitrance loss of plant organogenic totipotency in the course of In vitro neoplastic progression

Summary: The aptitude for organogenesis from normal hormone-dependent cultures very commonly decreases as the tissues are serially subcultured. The reasons for the loss of regenerative ability may vary under different circumstances: genetic variation in the cell population, epigenetic changes, disappearance of an organogenesis-promoting substance, etc. The same reasons may be evoked for the progressive and eventually irreversible loss of organogenic totipotency in the course of neoplastic progressions from hormone-independent tumors and hyperhydric teratomas to cancers. As in animal cells, plant cells at the end of a neoplastic progression have probably undergone several independent genetic accidents with cumulative effects. They indeed are characterized by atypical biochemical cycles from which they are apparently unable to escape. The metabolic changes are probably not the primary defects that cause cancer, rather they may allow the cells to survive. How these changes, namely an oxidative stress, affect organogenesis is not known. The literature focuses on somatic mutations and epigenetic changes that cause aberrant regulation of cell cycle genes and their machiner

Ex Vivo Antioxidant Capacities of Fruit and Vegetable Juices. Potential In Vivo Extrapolation

Background: In support of claims that their products have antioxidant properties, the food industry and dietary supplement manufacturers rely solely on the in vitro determination of the ORAC (oxygen radical antioxidant capacity) value, despite its acknowledged lack of any in vivo relevance. It thus appears necessary to use tests exploiting biological materials (blood, white blood cells) capable of producing physiological free radicals, in order to evaluate more adequately the antioxidant capacities of foods such as fruit and vegetable juices. Materials: Two approaches to as sessing the antioxidant capacities of 21 commercial fruit and vegetable juices were compared: the ORAC assay and the “PMA–whole blood assay,” which uses whole blood stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate to produce the superoxide anion. We described in another paper the total poly phenol contents (TPCs) and individual phenolic compound contents of all the juices investigated here (Matute et al. Antioxidants 2020, 9, 1–18). Results: Ranking of the juices from highest to lowest antioxidant capacity differed considerably according to the test used, so there was no correlation (r = 0.33, p = 0.13) between the two assays when considering all juices. Although the results of the ORAC assay correlated positively with TPC (r = 0.50, p = 0.02), a much stronger correlation (r = 0.70, p = 0.004) emerged between TPC and % superoxide anion inhibition. In the PMA–whole blood as say, peonidin-3-O-glucoside, epigallocatechin gallate, catechin, and quercetin present in juices were found to inhibit superoxide anion production at concentrations below 1 µM, with a strong positive correlation. Conclusions: Associated with the determination of total and individual phenolic com pounds contained in fruit and vegetable juices, the PMA–whole blood assay appears better than the ORAC assay for evaluating juice antioxidant capacit

Behavior of various types of seeds of two species of yams tuber (Dioscorea cayenensis Lam. and Dioscorea rotundata Poir.) in Gabon

Low multiplication ratio of yam and scarcity of planting materials are major constraints militating against sustainable yam production. In order to evaluate the behavior of the four various types of seeds of two species of yams Dioscorea cayenensis and Dioscorea rotundata, cultivated on the experimental ground of the Higher National Institute of Agronomy and Biotechnology (INSAB), a test was realized in a randomized complete block design with six replications. The samples were cut and three levels of each tuber were used :proximal, medial and distal parts of the tuber. The fragments of tuber and the whole tuber represent the various types of seed used in this work. The results showed significant (P<0.05) differences in number of plants emerged and time of emergence in a mixture of 40% soil and 60% sand three months and half after planting. For all species, the proximal parts sprouted earlier than the medium parts and then the distal parts. The fragmentation of tubers in 3 parts can show the existence of a gradient alone the tuber in its potential for sprouting and growth. There was a highly significant (P<0.05) difference between yield performances after 9 months of culture. This technique improves the production of tubers in both species

Vitrification of carnation in vitro: Changes in ethylene production, ACC level and capacity to convert ACC to ethylene

peer reviewedCarnation tissue was allowed to vitrify in liquid culture and ethylene production, ACC content and capacity to convert ACC to ethylene were measured in comparison to tissue developing normally on solid medium. Flask atmospheres of liquid cultures accumulated ethylene at a higher rate during the first four days. Daily ethylene production by vitrifying material decreased later. Ethylene emission by vitrifying tissues always remained above controls when subcultured daily to fresh medium. Explants and microsomal preparations from vitrifying carnations converted ACC to ethylene at a higher degree from the first day in liquid medium. ACC level markedly increased in vitrifying tissues during the first two days of liquid culture. Raising the level of ethylene in the atmosphere of solid cultures did not induce vitrification symptoms nor did use of inhibitors of ethylene biosynthesis in liquid cultures prevent the process. The role of ethylene in vitrification is reappraised. © 1985 Martinus Nijhoff/Dr W. Junk Publishers

Soluble, membrane and wall peroxidases, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and lignin changes in relation to vitrification of carnation tissues cultured in vitro

Vitrification of carnation tissues by passage from solid to liquid medium was accompanied by decreased lignin content. The higher lignin level of normal tissues corresponded to a higher phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity. It also paralleled a much higher activity of soluble and wall peroxidases towards syringaldazine. Kinetical analysis of soluble isoperoxidases indicated a two-step control of basic and acidic enzymes with a diminished activity of the latter in glassy plants. Compartment analysis of guaiacol peroxidases showed a different distribution in malformed tissues