Competition for two sulphur containing amino acids (cysteine and methionine) by soil microbes and maize roots in the rhizosphere

The factors regulating potential acquisition of sulphur (S)-containing amino acids by plant roots from the rhizosphere remain poorly understood. Using radio tracer (14C and 35S), we studied the competition for two S-containing amino acids (i.e., cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met)) within 24 hours (h), by the rhizosphere microbial community and maize plants (Zea mays L.). Our results showed that the capture of Cys and Met by the maize plants was much lower, with only <10% of the added amino acid-14C or 35S captured by the plant, compared to the rhizosphere microbial community (76.9%) on average. We suggest that this could be a result of relatively high availability of inorganic N and S in soil solution, the lack of transmembrane for amino acids on maize root cells, as well as the rapid turnover of Cys and Met by soil microbes in the rhizosphere. The addition of inorganic S, significantly reduced plant capture of Cys and Met-14C by maize plants in the rhizosphere but had little effect on the capture of Cys and Met-35S (p<0.05). Overall, our results imply that (1) Cys and Met are available carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and S sources for maize plants, potentially contributing to total plant N and S demand under certain conditions; (2) Utilization of Cys and Met by maize roots in the rhizosphere is independent of inorganic S availability; (3) Increased amino acid concentration led to higher capture by both plants and soil microbes, but had little effect on the competition success on either side

Relative efficacy and stability of biological and synthetic nitrification inhibitors in a highly nitrifying soil: Evidence of apparent nitrification inhibition by linoleic acid and linolenic acid

Biological nitrification inhibition is a plant‐mediated rhizosphere process where natural nitrification inhibitors can be produced and released by roots to suppress nitrifier activity in soil. Nitrification is one of the critical soil processes in the nitrogen (N) cycle, but unrestricted and rapid nitrification in agricultural systems can result in major losses of N from the plant–soil system (i.e., by NO3− leaching and gaseous N emissions). In this study, we explored the potential efficacy of biological nitrification inhibitors (linoleic acid [LA] and linolenic acid [LN]) and a proven efficient synthetic (dicyandiamide [DCD]) nitrification inhibitor on N dynamics, nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in a highly nitrifying soil. 14C‐labelled LA, LN and DCD mineralization was determined in a parallel experiment to explore the fate of inhibitors after application. We found that LA and LN had no effect on soil NH4+ concentrations, but significantly decreased NO3− concentrations. Soil that received DCD had lower NO3− and higher NH4+ concentrations than the control (soil without nitrification inhibitors). LA and LN increased the cumulative N2O and CO2 emissions when they were applied at high concentrations (635 or 1,270 mg kg−1 dry soil). LA and LN had a much greater mineralization rate than that of DCD: 47–56%, 37–61% and 2.7–5.5%, respectively, after 38 days incubation. We conclude that in contrast to the direct inhibition of nitrification caused by DCD, addition of LA and LN may cause apparent nitrification inhibition by promoting microbial immobilization of soil NH4+ and/or NO3−. Future studies on nitrification inhibitors need to clearly differentiate between the direct and indirect effects that result from addition of these compounds to soil

Short-term responses of greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem carbon fluxes to elevated ozone and N fertilization in a temperate grassland

Growing evidence suggests that tropospheric ozone has widespread effects on vegetation, which can contribute to alter ecosystem carbon (C) dynamics and belowground processes. In this study, we used intact soil mesocosms from a semi-improved grassland and investigated the effects of elevated ozone, alone and in combination with nitrogen (N) fertilization on soil-borne greenhouse gas emissions and ecosystem C fluxes. Ozone exposure under fully open-air field conditions was occurred during the growing season. Across a one-year period, soil methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions did not differ between treatments, but elevated ozone significantly depressed soil CH4 uptake by 14% during the growing season irrespective of N fertilization. Elevated ozone resulted in a 15% reduction of net ecosystem exchange of carbon dioxide, while N fertilization significantly increased ecosystem respiration during the growing season. Aboveground biomass was unaffected by elevated ozone during the growing season but significantly decreased by 17% during the non-growing season. At the end of the experiment, soil mineral N content, net N mineralization and extracellular enzyme activities (i.e., cellobiohydrolase and leucine aminopeptidase) were higher under elevated ozone than ambient ozone. The short-term effect of single application of N fertilizer was primarily responsible for the lack of the interaction between elevated ozone and N fertilization. Therefore, results of our short-term study suggest that ozone exposure may have negative impacts on soil CH4 uptake and C sequestration and contribute to accelerated rates of soil N-cycling

BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN-2 AND COLLAGEN TYPE 1 FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES OF DEMINERALIZED DENTINE MATRIX: RELEASE KINETIC AND CHEMOTAXIS POTENTIAL FOR OSTEOPROGENITOR CELLS

Objective: To investigate the release of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and collagen type I proteins (COL1) from different sources ofdemineralized dentine matrix (DDM) and their chemotaxis to mouse osteoprogenitor cells.Methods: The release kinetic of BMP-2 and COL1 was measured from custom-made DDM (CMDDM) and commercially available DDM (CADDM).Using Urist physicochemical method, CMDDM was collected from the extracted teeth in a certified dental clinic. Levels of BMP-2 and COL1 releasedwere measured at days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13. Next, mouse osteoprogenitor cells, MC3T3-E1, were cultured with a variety of materials as follows:CMDDM, CADDM, Bio-Oss®, and blank control in transwell system. The number of cell migration was determined by crystal violet staining to explorechemotaxis of different DDMs to mouse osteoprogenitor cells.Results: BMP-2 was detected at 588.32 ± 14.53 pg/ml from 5 g of CMDDM. In the release kinetic assay, the concentration of BMP-2 in the CMDDMgroup increased rapidly and peaked at 113.9 pg/ml on day 5, almost four times higher than that of CADDM. The release of COL1 showed similarpattern in both CMDDM and CADDM; however, the amount was significantly higher in the CMDDM group. In cell culture experiment, the number ofmigrated MC3T3-E1 was ranked as the highest in CMDDM, followed by CADDM and Bio-Oss® (p<0.05).Conclusion: CMDDM released BMP-2 and COL1 greater than CADDM, which can induce more osteoblast-like cell migration. These results demonstrateda release kinetic of proteins and osteoinductivity of CMDDM, which supports a benefit of using autogenous bone graft

High Sensitivity Multi-Axes Rotation Sensing Using Large Momentum Transfer Point Source Atom Interferometry

A point source interferometer (PSI) is a device where atoms are split and recombined by applying a temporal sequence of Raman pulses during the expansion of a cloud of cold atoms behaving approximately as a point source. The PSI can work as a sensitive multi-axes gyroscope that can automatically filter out the signal from accelerations. The phase shift arising from the rotations is proportional to the momentum transferred to each atom from the Raman pulses. Therefore, by increasing the momentum transfer, it should be possible to enhance the sensitivity of the PSI. Here, we investigate the degree of enhancement in sensitivity that could be achieved by augmenting the PSI with large momentum transfer (LMT) employing a sequence of many Raman pulses with alternating directions. We analyze how factors such as Doppler detuning, spontaneous emission, and the finite initial size of the atomic cloud compromise the advantage of LMT and how to find the optimal momentum transfer under these limitations, with both the semi-classical model and a model under which the motion of the center of mass of each atom is described quantum mechanically. We identify a set of realistic parameters for which LMT can improve the PSI by a factor of nearly 40

Effects of four years of elevated ozone on microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activities in a semi-natural grassland

Reduced belowground carbon (C) allocation by plants exposed to ozone may change properties and activities of the microbial community in soils. To investigate how soil microbial biomass and extracellular enzyme activities respond to elevated ozone, we collected soils from a temperate grassland after four years of ozone exposure under fully open-air field conditions. We measured soil microbial biomass, the metabolism of low molecular weight C substrates and hydrolytic extracellular enzyme activities in both bulk soil and isolated aggregates to assess changes in microbial activity and community function. After four years of elevated ozone treatment, soil total organic C was reduced by an average of 20% compared with ambient condition. Elevated ozone resulted in a small but insignificant reduction (4–10%) in microbial biomass in both bulk soil and isolated aggregates. Activities of extracellular enzymes were generally not affected by elevated ozone, except β-glucosidase, whose activity in bulk soil was significantly lower under elevated ozone than ambient condition. Activities of β-glucosidase, leucine aminopeptidase and acid phosphatase were higher in microaggregates (0.25 mm). Elevated ozone had no effects on mineralization rates of low molecular weight C substrates in both bulk soil and isolated aggregates. We therefore conclude that the size and activity rather than function of the soil microbial community in this semi-natural grassland are altered by elevated ozone

Impacts of abiotic stresses on the physiology and metabolism of cool-season grasses:A review

Grasslands cover more than 70% of the world's agricultural land playing a pivotal role in global food security, economy, and ecology due to their flexibility and functionality. Climate change, characterized by changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, and by increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is anticipated to increase both the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, such as drought, heat waves, and flooding. Potentially, climate change could severely compromise future forage crop production and should be considered a direct threat to food security. This review aimed to summarize our current understanding of the physiological and metabolic responses of temperate grasses to those abiotic stresses associated with climate change. Primarily, substantial decreases in photosynthetic rates of cool‐season grasses occur as a result of high temperatures, water‐deficit or water‐excess, and elevated ozone, but not CO2 concentrations. Those decreases are usually attributed to stomatal and non‐stomatal limitations. Additionally, while membrane instability and reactive oxygen species production was a common feature of the abiotic stress response, total antioxidant capacity showed a stress‐specific response. Furthermore, climate change‐related stresses altered carbohydrate partitioning, with implications for biomass production. While water‐deficit stress, increased CO2, and ozone concentrations resulted in higher carbohydrate content, the opposite occurred under conditions of heat stress and flooding. The extent of damage is greatly dependent on location, as well as the type and intensity of stress. Fortunately, temperate forage grass species are highly heterogeneous. Consequently, through intra‐ and in particular inter‐specific plant hybridization (e.g., Festuca x Lolium hybrids) new opportunities are available to harness, within single genotypes, gene combinations capable of combating climate change