Effects of elevated carbon dioxide on photosynthesis and carbon partitioning: a perspective on root sugar sensing and hormonal crosstalk

Plant responses to atmospheric carbon dioxide will be of great concern in the future, as carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]) are predicted to continue to rise. Elevated [CO2] causes increased photosynthesis in plants, which leads to greater production of carbohydrates and biomass. Which organ the extra carbohydrates are allocated to varies between species, but also within species. These carbohydrates are a major energy source for plant growth, but they also act as signaling molecules and have a range of uses beyond being a source of carbon and energy. Currently, there is a lack of information on how the sugar sensing and signaling pathways of plants are affected by the higher content of carbohydrates produced under elevated [CO2]. Particularly, the sugar signaling pathways of roots are not well understood, along with how they are affected by elevated [CO2]. At elevated [CO2], some plants allocate greater amounts of sugars to roots where they are likely to act on gene regulation and therefore modify nutrient uptake and transport. Glucose and sucrose also promote root growth, an effect similar to what occurs under elevated [CO2]. Sugars also crosstalk with hormones to regulate root growth, but also affect hormone biosynthesis. This review provides an update on the role of sugars as signaling molecules in plant roots and thus explores the currently known functions that may be affected by elevated [CO2]

Evidence for separate translocation pathways in determining cadmium accumulation in grain and aerial plant parts in rice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cadmium (Cd) translocation and accumulation in the grain and aerial plant parts of rice (<it>Oryza sativa </it>L.) is an important aspect of food safety and phytoextraction in areas with contaminated soil. Because control of Cd translocation and accumulation is likely to be determined by the plants genetics, the Cd contents of grain and the aerial parts of rice may be manipulated to improve food safety and for phytoextraction ability. This study studied Cd translocation and accumulation and their genetic control in aerial parts of rice to provide a starting point for improving food safety and phytoextraction in Cd-contaminated soils.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the <it>japonica </it>rice cultivar "Nipponbare", Cd accumulated in leaves and culms until heading, and in culms and ears after heading. Two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) from <it>indica </it>cv. "Kasalath", <it>qcd4-1 </it>and <it>qcd4-2</it>, affect Cd concentrations in upper plant parts just before heading. Three near-isogenic lines (NILs) with <it>qcd4-1 </it>and <it>qcd4-2 </it>were selected from the "Nipponbare" background, and were analyzed for the effects of each QTL, and for interactions between the two QTLs. From the results compared between "Nipponbare" and each NIL, neither QTL influenced total Cd accumulation in aerial parts at 5 days after heading, but the interaction between two QTLs increased Cd accumulation. At 35 days after heading, <it>qcd4-2 </it>had increased Cd accumulation in the aerial plant parts and decreased translocation from leaves other than flag leaf, but interaction between the two QTLs increased translocation from leaves. NIL<it>qcd4-1,2 </it>accumulated higher concentrations of Cd in brown rice than "Nipponbare".</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Three types of Cd translocation and accumulation patterns demonstrated by NILs suggested that the accumulation of Cd in leaves and culms before heading, and translocation from them after heading are responsible for Cd accumulation in grain. Cd translocation from roots to culms and ears after heading may direct Cd to the aerial organs without influencing brown rice accumulation.</p

Protocol: a simple gel-free method for SNP genotyping using allele-specific primers in rice and other plant species

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genotype analysis using multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is a useful but labor-intensive or high-cost procedure in plant research. Here we describe an alternative genotyping method that is suited to multi-sample or multi-locus SNP genotyping and does not require electrophoresis or specialized equipment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have developed a simple method for multi-sample or multi-locus SNP genotyping using allele-specific primers (ASP). More specifically, we (1) improved the design of allele-specific primers, (2) established a method to detect PCR products optically without electrophoresis, and (3) standardized PCR conditions for parallel genomic assay using various allele-specific primers. As an illustration of multi-sample SNP genotyping using ASP, we mapped the locus for lodging resistance in a typhoon (<it>lrt5</it>). Additionally, we successfully tested multi-locus ASP-PCR analysis using 96 SNPs located throughout the genomes of rice (<it>Oryza sativa</it>) cultivars 'Koshihikari' and 'Kasalath', and demonstrated its applicability to other diverse cultivars/subspecies, including wild rice (<it>O. rufipogon</it>).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our ASP methodology allows characterization of SNPs genotypes without electrophoresis, expensive probes or specialized equipment, and is highly versatile due to the flexibility in the design of primers. The method could be established easily in any molecular biology laboratory, and is applicable to diverse organisms.</p

Improving rice zinc biofortification success rates through genetic and crop management approaches in a changing environment

Though rice is the predominant source of energy and micronutrients for more than half of the world population, it does not provide enough zinc (Zn) to match human nutritional requirements. Moreover, climate change, particularly rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, reduces the grain Zn concentration. Therefore, rice biofortification has been recognized as a key target to increase the grain Zn concentration to address global Zn malnutrition. Major bottlenecks for Zn biofortification in rice are identified as low Zn uptake, transport and loading into the grain; however, environmental and genetic contributions to grain Zn accumulation in rice have not been fully explored. In this review, we critically analyze the key genetic, physiological and environmental factors that determine Zn uptake, transport and utilization in rice. We also explore the genetic diversity of rice germplasm to develop new genetic tools for Zn biofortification. Lastly, we discuss the strategic use of Zn fertilizer for developing biofortified rice

Effects of Elevated Carbon Dioxide on Photosynthesis and Carbon Partitioning: A Perspective on Root Sugar Sensing and Hormonal Crosstalk

Plant responses to atmospheric carbon dioxide will be of great concern in the future, as carbon dioxide concentrations ([CO2]) are predicted to continue to rise. Elevated [CO2] causes increased photosynthesis in plants, which leads to greater production of carbohydrates and biomass. Which organ the extra carbohydrates are allocated to varies between species, but also within species. These carbohydrates are a major energy source for plant growth, but they also act as signaling molecules and have a range of uses beyond being a source of carbon and energy. Currently, there is a lack of information on how the sugar sensing and signaling pathways of plants are affected by the higher content of carbohydrates produced under elevated [CO2]. Particularly, the sugar signaling pathways of roots are not well understood, along with how they are affected by elevated [CO2]. At elevated [CO2], some plants allocate greater amounts of sugars to roots where they are likely to act on gene regulation and therefore modify nutrient uptake and transport. Glucose and sucrose also promote root growth, an effect similar to what occurs under elevated [CO2]. Sugars also crosstalk with hormones to regulate root growth, but also affect hormone biosynthesis. This review provides an update on the role of sugars as signaling molecules in plant roots and thus explores the currently known functions that may be affected by elevated [CO2]

Manipulating the Phytic Acid Content of Rice Grain Toward Improving Micronutrient Bioavailability

Abstract Myo-inositol hexaphosphate, also known as phytic acid (PA), is the most abundant storage form of phosphorus in seeds. PA acts as a strong chelator of metal cations to form phytate and is considered an anti-nutrient as it reduces the bioavailability of important micronutrients. Although the major nutrient source for more than one-half of the global population, rice is a poor source of essential micronutrients. Therefore, biofortification and reducing the PA content of rice have arisen as new strategies for increasing micronutrient bioavailability in rice. Furthermore, global climate change effects, particularly rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, are expected to increase the PA content and reduce the concentrations of most of the essential micronutrients in rice grain. Several genes involved in PA biosynthesis have been identified and characterized in rice. Proper understanding of the genes related to PA accumulation during seed development and creating the means to suppress the expression of these genes should provide a foundation for manipulating the PA content in rice grain. Low-PA rice mutants have been developed that have a significantly lower grain PA content, but these mutants also had reduced yields and poor agronomic performance, traits that challenge their effective use in breeding programs. Nevertheless, transgenic technology has been effective in developing low-PA rice without hampering plant growth or seed development. Moreover, manipulating the micronutrient distribution in rice grain, enhancing micronutrient levels and reducing the PA content in endosperm are possible strategies for increasing mineral bioavailability. Therefore, a holistic breeding approach is essential for developing successful low-PA rice lines. In this review, we focus on the key determinants for PA concentration in rice grain and discuss the possible molecular methods and approaches for manipulating the PA content to increase micronutrient bioavailability

Comparative analysis of N-glycans in the ungerminated and germinated stages of Oryza sativa

All fundamental information such as signal transduction, metabolic control, infection, cell-to-cell signaling, and cell differentiation related to the growth of plants are preserved in germs. In preserving these information, glycans have a key role and are involved in the development and differentiation of organisms. Glycans which exist in rice germ are expected to have an important role in germination. In this study, we performed structural and correlation analysis of the N-glycans in rice germ before and after germination. Our results confirmed that the N-glycans in the ungerminated stage of the rice germ had low number of N-glycans consisting only of six kinds especially with highmannose and paucimannose type N-glycans being 16.0% and 76.7%, respectively. On the other hand, after 48 hours germinated germ stage, there was an increase in the complex type N-glycans with the appearance of Lewis a structure, the most complex type and a decrease in paucimannose types. These results suggest that at least six kinds of N-glycans are utilized for long time preservation of rice seed, while the diversification of most complex types of N-glycans is produced an environment dependent for shoot formation of rice

New insight into photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2: the role of leaf nitrogen and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase content in rice leaves

We tested the hypothesis that photosynthetic (A) acclimation to elevated CO2 partial pressure (p[CO2]) is associated with the inhibition of protein synthesis, inhibition of nitrogen (N) partitioning into the leaf blade and/or accelerated leaf senescence in rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Notohikari). Plants were grown for 70 days hydroponically in artificially illuminated growth chambers at a p[CO2] of either 39 or 100Pa at N 2mM. Leaf A, Vc.max, Jmax, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco, E.C.4.1.1.39), mRNA for associated genes rbcS and rbcL, total N and carbohydrate concentrations in leaves at different positions in the canopy were measured. Spatial allocation of N and Rubisco synthesis of expanding leaf blade was also measured from the leaf ligule to tip of the leaf blade. Growth at elevated p[CO2] suppressed light saturated A, Vc.max and Jmax in leaf blades at all positions in the canopy. The suppression of A was 15% for the upper leaf blades compared to 37% in the lower leaf blades. Similar reductions in the amount of Rubisco, Chlorophyll, and total N were observed in the leaves of the plants grown in 100 p[CO2] compared to the 39 p[CO2]. Sucrose and starch concentration concentrations increased at elevated p[CO2] but we found no relationship between A, Rubisco or the amount of transcript abundance of rbcS and rbcL. Elevated p[CO2] substantially reduced N allocation into expanding leaf blades and this was well correlated with Rubisco synthesis. These results suggest that A acclimation to elevated p[CO2] occurs during all phases of the leaf development, is initiated during the cell maturation process and linked with spatial N allocation into the leaf blade. In addition, elevated p[CO2] accelerated lower leaf blade senescence which compounded the effect on A acclimation