Differential partitioning of thiols and glucosinolates between shoot and root in Chinese cabbage upon excess zinc exposure

Zinc (Zn) is one of the important elements of plant growth, however, at elevated level it is toxic. Exposure of Chinese cabbage to elevated Zn2+ concentrations (5 and 10 μM ZnCl2) resulted in enhancement of total sulfur and organic sulfur concentration. Transcript level of APS reductase (APR) as a key enzyme in biosynthesis of primary sulfur compounds (cysteine and thiols), was up-regulated in both shoot and root upon exposure to elevated Zn2+, which was accompanied by an increase in the concentration of cysteine in both tissues. In contrast, the concentration of thiols increased only in the root by 5.5 and 15-fold at 5 and 10 μM Zn2+, respectively, which was in accompanied by an upregulation of ATP sulfurylase, an enzyme responsible for activation of sulfate. An elevated content of glucosinolates, mostly indolic glucosinolates, only in the shoot of plants exposed to excess level of Zn2+ coincided with an increase in gene expression of key biosynthetic enzymes and regulators (CYP79B3, CYP83B1, MYB34). Thus distinct acuumulation patterns of sulfur containing compounds in root and shoot of Chinese cabbage may be a strategy for Chinese cabbage to combat with exposure to excess Zn

Nickel toxicity in Brassica rapa seedlings: Impact on sulfur metabolism and mineral nutrient content

Weltweit haben anthropogene Aktivitäten zu erhöhten Nickel­gehalten im Boden (Ni2+) geführt, was sich negativ auf die Pflanzenproduktivität auswirken kann. Der physiologische Hintergrund der Ni2+ Phytotoxizität ist noch weitgehend unklar. Eine zehntägige Exposition von Brassica rapa Sämlingen mit 1, 2 und 5 μM NiCl2 führte zu stark erhöhten Ni Gehalten im Gewebe, einer verringerten Biomasseproduktion und zu Blattchlorosen bei Konzentrationen von ≥ 2 μM Ni2+. Bei einer Konzentration von 5 μM Ni2+ war kein Pflanzenwachstum mehr zu beobachten. Eine Ni Toxizität trat auf, wenn der Ni Gehalt im Sprosses 1,0 μmol g–1 Trockengewicht und der in der Wurzel 23 μmol g–1 Trockengewicht überschritt. Eine Ni2+ Exposition von 2 μM beein­flusste den Mineralstoffgehalt in Spross und Wurzel nur geringfügig. Daher beeinflusste eine Ni2+ Exposition die Gehalte an Schwefelmetaboliten in der Pflanze kaum. Bei ≥ 1 μM Ni2+ war der Gesamtschwefelgehalt der Wurzel nur geringfügig erniedrigt, was vollständig auf einen verminderten Sulfatgehalt zurückzuführen war. Darüber hinaus war der Gehalt an wasserlöslichen Nicht-Protein-Thiolen sowohl im Spross als auch in der Wurzel nur bei 5 μM Ni2+ erhöht. Aus diesen Ergebnissen geht hervor, dass der Schwefelstoffwechsel wahrscheinlich nicht direkt an den Ni2+ Toleranzmechanismen von B. rapa beteiligt ist.Throughout the world anthropogenic activity has resulted in enhanced soil nickel (Ni2+) levels, which may negatively affect plant productivity. The physiological background of Ni2+ phytotoxicity is still largely unclear. Ten-day exposures of Brassica rapa seedlings to 1, 2 and 5 μM NiCl2 resulted in strongly enhanced tissue Ni levels, a decreased biomass production and leaf chlorosis at ≥ 2 μM Ni2+. At 5 μM Ni2+ plant growth was completely halted. Ni toxicity occurred when the content of the shoot exceeded 1.0 μmol g–1 dry weight and that of the root, 23 μmol g–1 dry weight. Ni2+ exposure at ≤ 2 μM only slightly affected the mineral nutrient content of both shoot and root. Hence, Ni2+ exposure hardly affected the sulfur metabolite content of the plant. At ≥ 1 μM Ni2+ the total sulfur content of the root was only slightly lowered, which could fully be ascribed to a decreased sulfate content. Moreover, the water-soluble non-protein thiol content of both shoot and root was only enhanced at 5 μM Ni2+. From these results it was clear that sulfur metabolism was unlikely to be directly involved in the Ni2+ tolerance mechanisms of B. rapa

Interactions of sulfate with other nutrients as revealed by H2S fumigation of Chinese cabbage

Sulfur deficiency in plants has severe impacts on both growth and nutrient composition. Fumigation with sub-lethal concentrations of H2S facilitates the supply of reduced sulfur via the leaves while sulfate is depleted from the roots. This restores growth while sulfate levels in the plant tissue remain low. In the present study this system was used to reveal interactions of sulfur with other nutrients in the plant and to ascertain whether these changes are due to the absence or presence of sulfate or rather to changes in growth and organic sulfur. There was a complex reaction of the mineral composition to sulfur deficiency, however, the changes in content of many nutrients were prevented by H2S fumigation. Under sulfur deficiency these nutrients accumulated on a fresh weight basis but were diluted on a dry weight basis, presumably due to a higher dry matter content. The pattern differed, however, between leaves and roots which led to changes in shoot to root partitioning. Only the potassium, molybdenum and zinc contents were strongly linked to the sulfate supply. Potassium was the only nutrient amongst those measured which showed a positive correlation with sulfur content in shoots, highlighting a role as a counter cation for sulfate during xylem loading and vacuolar storage in leaves. This was supported by an accumulation of potassium in roots of the sulfur-deprived plants. Molybdenum and zinc increased substantially under sulfur deficiency, which was only partly prevented by H2S fumigation. While the causes of increased molybdenum under sulfur deficiency have been previously studied, the relation between sulfate and zinc uptake needs further clarification

Copper toxicity affects indolic glucosinolates and gene expression of key enzymes for their biosynthesis in Chinese cabbage

Excessive levels of Cu2+ are phytotoxic and exposure of Chinese cabbage to elevated Cu2+ concentrations led to reduction of the plant biomass. To get more insight into the role of glucosinolates upon copper stress, the impact of elevated Cu2+ levels on glucosinolates biosynthesis were studied in Chinese cabbage. The content of total glucosinolates was only elevated in the roots, mostly due to indolic and aromatic glucosinolates. The results showed a higher contribution of indolic glucosinolates, notably glucobrassicin, a 2- and 4-fold increase in Chinese cabbage exposed to 5 and 10 µM Cu2+, respectively. Furthermore, the increase in the indolic glucosinolates was accompanied by enhanced transcript levels of CYP79B2 and CYP83B1, two genes involved in biosynthesis of indolic glucosinolates, and that of the MYB51, a transcription factor involved in regulation of indolic glucosinolate biosynthesis pathway, at elevated Cu2+ concentrations. In addition, total sulfur and nitrogen remained unaffected in the root, but total glucosinolate was significantly enhanced upon exposure to elevated Cu2+. This result may show that relatively more sulfur and nitrogen was channeled into glucosinolates in the root. In conclusion, accumulation of indolic glucosinolates in the root can be considered as a strategy for Chinese cabbage to combat elevated Cu2+ concentrations

Book of Abstracts of the 2nd International Conference on Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences (ICAMCS-2022)

It is a great privilege for us to present the abstract book of ICAMCS-2022 to the authors and the delegates of the event. We hope that you will find it useful, valuable, aspiring, and inspiring. This book is a record of abstracts of the keynote talks, invited talks, and papers presented by the participants, which indicates the progress and state of development in research at the time of writing the research article. It is an invaluable asset to all researchers. The book provides a permanent record of this asset. Conference Title: 2nd International Conference on Applied Mathematics and Computational SciencesConference Acronym: ICAMCS-2022Conference Date: 12-14 October 2022Conference Organizers: DIT University, Dehradun, IndiaConference Mode: Online (Virtual