Physio-Genetic Dissection of Dark-Induced Leaf Senescence and Timing Its Reversal in Barley.

Barley crop model was analyzed for early and late events during the dark-induced leaf senescence (DILS) as well as for deciphering critical time limit for reversal of the senescence process. Chlorophyll fluorescence vitality index Rfd was determined as the earliest parameter that correlated well with the cessation of photosynthesis prior to microautophagy symptoms, initiation of DNA degradation, and severalfold increase in the endonuclease BNUC1. DILS was found characterized by up-regulation of processes that enable recycling of degraded macromolecules and metabolites, including increased NH4+ remobilization, gluconeogenesis, glycolysis, and partial up-regulation of glyoxylate and tricarboxylate acid cycles. The most evident differences in gene medleys between DILS and developmental senescence included hormone-activated signaling pathways, lipid catabolic processes, carbohydrate metabolic processes, low-affinity ammonia remobilization, and RNA methylation. The mega-autophagy symptoms were apparent much later, specifically on day 10 of DILS, when disruption of organelles—nucleus and mitochondria —became evident. Also, during this latter-stage programmed cell death processes, namely, shrinking of the protoplast, tonoplast interruption, and vacuole breakdown, chromatin condensation, more DNA fragmentation, and disintegration of the cell membrane were prominent. Reversal of DILS by re-exposure of the plants from dark to light was possible until but not later than day 7 of dark exposure and was accompanied by regained photosynthesis, increase in chlorophyll, and reversal of Rfd, despite activation of macro-autophagy-related genes

Cadmium-induced changes in antioxidant enzymes in suspension culture of soybean cells.

Cadmium (Cd), similarly to other heavy metals, inhibits plant growth. We have recently showed that Cd2+ either stimulates (1-4 μM) or inhibits (ł 6 μM) growth of soybean (Glycine max L.) cells in suspension culture (Sobkowiak & Deckert, 2003, Plant Physiol Biochem. 41: 767-72). Here, soybean cell suspension cultures were treated with various concentrations of Cd2+ (1-10 μM) and the following enzymes were analyzed by native electrophoresis: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APOX). We found a significant correlation between the cadmium-induced changes of soybean cell culture growth and the isoenzyme pattern of the antioxidant enzymes. The results suggest that inhibition of growth and modification of antioxidant defense reactions appear in soybean cells when Cd2+ concentration in culture medium increases only slightly, from 4 to 6 μM

The Role of Heavy Metals in Plant Response to Biotic Stress

The present review discusses the impact of heavy metals on the growth of plants at different concentrations, paying particular attention to the hormesis effect. Within the past decade, study of the hormesis phenomenon has generated considerable interest because it was considered not only in the framework of plant growth stimulation but also as an adaptive response of plants to a low level of stress which in turn can play an important role in their responses to other stress factors. In this review, we focused on the defence mechanisms of plants as a response to different metal ion doses and during the crosstalk between metal ions and biotic stressors such as insects and pathogenic fungi. Issues relating to metal ion acquisition and ion homeostasis that may be essential for the survival of plants, pathogens and herbivores competing in the same environment were highlighted. Besides, the influence of heavy metals on insects, especially aphids and pathogenic fungi, was shown. Our intention was also to shed light on the relationship between heavy metals deposition in the environment and ecological communities formed under a strong selective pressure