Boron Stress Responsive MicroRNAs and Their Targets in Barley

Boron stress is an environmental factor affecting plant development and production. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to be involved in several plant processes such as growth regulation and stress responses. In this study, miRNAs associated with boron stress were identified and characterized in barley. miRNA profiles were also comparatively analyzed between root and leave samples. A total of 31 known and 3 new miRNAs were identified in barley; 25 of them were found to respond to boron treatment. Several miRNAs were expressed in a tissue specific manner; for example, miR156d, miR171a, miR397, and miR444a were only detected in leaves. Additionally, a total of 934 barley transcripts were found to be specifically targeted and degraded by miRNAs. In silico analysis of miRNA target genes demonstrated that many miRNA targets are conserved transcription factors such as Squamosa promoter-binding protein, Auxin response factor (ARF), and the MYB transcription factor family. A majority of these targets were responsible for plant growth and response to environmental changes. We also propose that some of the miRNAs in barley such as miRNA408 might play critical roles against boron exposure. In conclusion, barley may use several pathways and cellular processes targeted by miRNAs to cope with boron stress

Multipurpose plant systems for renovation of waste waters

WOS: 000244443300004Two promising aquatic macrophytes Lemna minor (Duckweed) and Eichornia crassipes (Water Hyacinth); were used to test their cleaning ability for domestic waste waters in lagoons with one entry point and three outlets in 1996 (floatation rate 110 m(3)/day; BOD(5) 130-170 mg/l; pH 13.5). E. crassipes plants (5+ 5 roots, 25 cm long) were cultured in two lagoons and L. minor in one lagoon. Both species failed to grow due to a high pH. In 1997 the pH of water was neutralized to 6-7 before plant introduction in to the lagoons. L. minor plants did not grow due to overgrowth of rushes. However, E. crassipes grew very well and a total of 3 100 and 3400 roots were counted after 90 days with average heights of 70-75 cm, during this year. These plants showed high absorptive capacity. The dry weight of the harvested plants showed a parallelism to the prevalence with 80.160 kg dry weight. Phenological observations revealed that 80-90% of the plants covering the lagoon surface bloomed and water coming from the outlet became clear enough with a BOD(5) value of 30-40 and 50-80 mg/l. In a later experiment L. minor (20 plants) was cultured in a tank in May 2001 (BOD(5) 130, COD 170, suspended matter 35.2 mg/l). In all 1100 plants/m(2) were counted at the end of 90 days. After harvesting Lemna plants, water analysis showed that BOD(5) was 39.27, total nitrogen content 43, phosphorus 2, potassium 1.67, Pb 0.02, Cd 0.005, and Cr 0.05 mg/l. Renovated and non-renovated waters were used for irrigation of lawns covered by the grass species like Lolium perenne and L. italicum. These species behaved better when sprayed with 100% renovated water than mixed or non-renovated waters

Eco - physiological behaviour of two woody oak species to combat desertification in the east Mediterranean-a case study from Lebanon

2nd International Geography Symposium-Mediterranean Environment -- JUN 02-05, 2010 -- Antalya, TURKEYWOS: 000299536700098The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment scenarios as well as other global assessments have revealed that factors like climate change, land use changes, biotic interferences and atmospheric CO2 will be the major drivers of future biodiversity loss. This loss is important because it will lead to a loss of valuable genetic diversity as well, which is of paramount importance for well being of humans. The local species losses and extinctions are expected to take place at an even faster rate, which will directly affect local ecosystem functioning. However, the land-use change may play a more dominating role in the species loss at the global level during next 5 decades. This loss can vary between 7-25 percent depending on different biomes. Due to her existence in the Mediterranean Basin Lebanon is among one of the countires which has been severely suffering from changes in the land use and desertification, and will be affected much in future. Attempts should thus be made for obtaining detailed projections for the country. One of the ways to be followed is monitoring the efficiency of water use. Therefore in this study adaptation strategies of two typical woody oak species Quercus infectoria; a deciduous species; and Q. calliprinos; an evergreen species; to drought prone environments was studied in two different sites in Lebanon with high and low rainfall, during spring and autumn seasons. The water relations and photosynthetic behaviour of these species were investigated by conducting experiments in the field in order to assess their ecophysiological responses to water stress caused by increased drought. The leaves of Q. infectoria were bright green and larger than leaves of Q. calliprinos, allowing higher rates of photosynthesis and transpiration, but also resulting in low water use efficiency, regardless of site and season. Water stress reduced the rates of photosynthesis and transpiration in the course of the drying period in correspondence with an increase in vapour pressure deficit. The recovery of these two parameters in the autumn was correlated with a lowering of the air temperature and the saturation deficit of the atmosphere, for the same range of intercepted PAR. In all seasons, a mid-day depression in the photosynthesis and transpiration curves was due to stomata closure in response to water stress during the hottest hours of the day. These results are expected to enlighten the possibilities for future reclamation of degraded areas in the country. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Recep Efe and Munir Oztur

Differences in the Wheat leaf 2-DE protein profile between cultivars and applied nitrogen levels

European Biotechnology Congress -- SEP 28-OCT 01, 2011 -- Istanbul, TURKEYWOS: 000295310800422European Biotechnol Themat Network Asso

Water pollution studies in the rivers of the Edirne Region-Turkey

WOS: 000270156100010Physico-chemical parameters of Tunca, Merich, Arda and Ergene rivers, in the Edirne region of Turkey, were investigated. Studies were carried out during 1998-2004 and the data obtained were compared with EU threshold levels. The results showed that the total concentrations of P, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mn and Co were higher than these threshold levels. There is an urgent need for Turkey to limit water pollution from a wide range of dangerous substances, particularly at a time when it is being considered as an EU candidate. Turkey will be required to achieve a satisfactory status in its waters by 2015, in particular in the waters of the rivers investigated in this paper that border Bulgaria and Greece. Levels of pollutants which pose a significant risk to the aquatic environment need to be monitored and strictly controlled

The expression level of boron -responsive miRNAs<b>_Ψ</b> from highly B treated and control B applied barley leaf and root tissues.

<p>L−B, B-free leaf; L+B, B-treated leaf; R−B, B-free root; R+B, B-treated root (<b>_Ψ</b> miRNAs with fold change over 2).</p