Biostimulant Effects of Seed-Applied Sedaxane Fungicide: Morphological and Physiological Changes in Maize Seedlings

Most crops are routinely protected against seed-born and soil-borne fungal pathogens through seed-applied fungicides. The recently released succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI), sedaxane\uae, is a broad-spectrum fungicide, used particularly to control Rhizoctonia spp., but also has documented growth-enhancement effects on wheat. This study investigates the potential biostimulant effects of sedaxane and related physiological changes in disease-free maize seedlings (3-leaf stage) at increasing application doses (25, 75 and 150 \u3bcg a.i. seed-1) under controlled sterilized conditions. We show sedaxane to have significant auxin-like and gibberellin-like effects, which effect marked morphological and physiological changes according to an approximate saturation dose-response model. Maximum benefits were attained at the intermediate dose, which significantly increased root length (+60%), area (+45%) and forks (+51%), and reduced root diameter as compared to untreated controls. Sedaxane enhanced leaf and root glutamine synthetase (GS) activity resulting in greater protein accumulation, particularly in the above-ground compartment, while glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activity remained almost unchanged. Sedaxane also improved leaf phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, which may be responsible for the increase in shoot antioxidant activity (phenolic acids), mainly represented by p-coumaric and caffeic acids. We conclude that, in addition to its protective effect, sedaxane can facilitate root establishment and intensify nitrogen and phenylpropanoid metabolism in young maize plants, and may be beneficial in overcoming biotic and abiotic stresses in early growth stages

Biostimulant Effects of Seed-Applied Sedaxane Fungicide: Morphological and Physiological Changes in Maize Seedlings

Most crops are routinely protected against seed-born and soil-borne fungal pathogens through seed-applied fungicides. The recently released succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI), sedaxane®, is a broad-spectrum fungicide, used particularly to control Rhizoctonia spp., but also has documented growth-enhancement effects on wheat. This study investigates the potential biostimulant effects of sedaxane and related physiological changes in disease-free maize seedlings (3-leaf stage) at increasing application doses (25, 75 and 150 μg a.i. seed-1) under controlled sterilized conditions. We show sedaxane to have significant auxin-like and gibberellin-like effects, which effect marked morphological and physiological changes according to an approximate saturation dose-response model. Maximum benefits were attained at the intermediate dose, which significantly increased root length (+60%), area (+45%) and forks (+51%), and reduced root diameter as compared to untreated controls. Sedaxane enhanced leaf and root glutamine synthetase (GS) activity resulting in greater protein accumulation, particularly in the above-ground compartment, while glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activity remained almost unchanged. Sedaxane also improved leaf phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity, which may be responsible for the increase in shoot antioxidant activity (phenolic acids), mainly represented by p-coumaric and caffeic acids. We conclude that, in addition to its protective effect, sedaxane can facilitate root establishment and intensify nitrogen and phenylpropanoid metabolism in young maize plants, and may be beneficial in overcoming biotic and abiotic stresses in early growth stages

Review of: "Multiple knockout mutants reveal a high redundancy of phytotoxic compounds that determine necrotrophic pathogenesis of Botrytis cinerea"

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The expression of a bean PGIP in transgenic wheat confers increased resistance to the fungal pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana

In several plant-pathogen interactions to overcome the barrier represented by cell wall most fungal pathogens produce a variety of hydrolytic enzymes and between them PGs are one of the first to be secreted. We demonstrate that transgenic wheat plants expressing PvPGIP2 showed a significant reduction of symptoms following the infection of Bipolaris sorokiniana suggesting that pectin hydrolysis is an important step for fungal penetration of wheat plants.In molti sistemi pianta patogeno i patogeni al fine di superare l’ostacolo rappresentato dalla parete cellulare producono degli enzimi idrolitici tra cui le Poligalatturonasi ( PG) sono tra i primi ad essere secreti. In questo lavoro dimostriamo che piante transgeniche di frumento sovraesprimenti la PvPGIP2 mostrano una significativa riduzione nella sintomatologia riscontrata in seguito ad infezione con Bipolaris sorokiniana suggerendo che l’idrolisi della pectina rappresenta uno step importante per la penetrazione e la colonizzazione dei tessuti di frumento.L'articolo é disponibile sul sito dell'editore: http://www.apsjournals.apsnet.or

The Role of a marine protected area in safeguarding the genetic diversity of rare species: the case of <i>Patella ferruginea</i> Gmelin, 1791 (Gastrpoda: Patellidae) = Il Ruolo delle aree marine protette per la salvaguardia della diversità genetica di specie rare: il caso di <i>Patella ferruginea</i> Gmelin, 1791 (Gastropoda: Patellidae)

Patella ferruginea (Gastropoda: Patellidae) is an endangered marine gastropod, distributed on the western Mediterranean coasts, whose range has progressively contracted, due to intense human exploitation. Our attention focused on its genetic structure, in order to gather information about levels of genetic variability of P. ferruginea from the Asinara Marine Protected Area and a neighbouring non-protected area

Fast method for skeletal tissue gene expression analysis

open9Several chronic diseases have been associated with bone alteration in the last few years. Despite the wealth of information provided by the analysis of the transcriptome in affected tissues, only a limited number of studies evaluated gene expression in bone tissue due to the difficulty to obtain high quality RNA. Therefore, skeletal pathologies have been often associated to a defective maturation process that occurs during recruitment of progenitor stem cells. In order to explore the possibility of analysing the gene expression during osteogenic differentiation in skeletal tissue, a single-step method to extract well-preserved RNA from bone specimens was performed. A comparison between this technique and a traditional method was made by analysing the quality and yield of RNA obtained. In addition, RNAs were assayed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to analyse the expression levels of the bone genes associated with the differentiation process in a mouse model. The present data showed that good quality RNA can be obtained from bone tissue by a simple single-step method allowing the expression analysis of the genes encoded by skeletal tissue. In conclusion, the present study allows the possibility to easily obtain good quality RNA from bone tissue that is suitable for gene expression studies of bone diseases.openDalle Carbonare, Luca; Vilei, Maria Teresa; Stranieri, Chiara; Innamorati, Giulio; Rosato, Antonio; Boldrin, Elisa; Sella, Stefania; Giannini, Sandro; Valenti, Maria TeresaDALLE CARBONARE, LUCA GIUSEPPE; Vilei, MARIA TERESA; Stranieri, Chiara; Innamorati, Giulio; Rosato, Antonio; Boldrin, Elisa; Sella, Stefania; Giannini, Sandro; Valenti, Maria Teres

Heterologous expression and characterization of a MoAA16 polysaccharide monooxygenase from the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae

Background: Cellulose is an organic carbon source that can be used as a sustainable alternative for energy, materials, and chemicals. However, the substantial challenge of converting it into soluble sugars remains a major obstacle in its use as a biofuel and chemical feedstock. A new class of enzymes knowns as copper-dependent polysaccharide monooxygenases (PMOs) or lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) can break down polysaccharides such as cellulose, chitin, and starch through oxidation. This process enhances the efficiency of cellulose degradation by cellulase. Results: The genome of the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease, contains the MGG_00245 gene, which encodes a putative PMO referred to as MoAA16. MoAA16 has been found to be highly expressed in planta during the early stages of fungal infection. The gene was optimized for heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris, and its oxidative cleavage activity on cellulose was characterized by analyzing soluble oligosaccharide products using highperformance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC-PAD). The reaction catalyzed by MoAA16 requires 2 electrons from an electron donor, such as ascorbic acid, and aerobic conditions. It primarily produces Glc1 to Glc4 oligosaccharides, as well as oxidized cellobionic and cellotrionic acids. MoAA16 has been observed to enhance cellulase hydrolysis on phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC) substrate, resulting in the production of more monosaccharide products. Conclusions: Our findings reveal the successful heterologous expression of MoAA16 in P. pastoris and its cellulose-active PMO properties. These results highlight the potential of MoAA16 as a promising candidate for applications in biofuel production and chemical synthesis. How to cite: Nguyen HM, Le LQ, Sella L, et al. Heterologous expression and characterization of a MoAA16 polysaccharide monooxygenase from the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Electron J Biotechnol 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2023.06.002

Antibiotic Resistance in Paediatric Febrile Urinary Tract Infections

: Febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) is currently considered the most frequent cause of serious bacterial illness in children in the first 2 years of life. UTI in paediatrics can irreversibly damage the renal parenchyma and lead to chronic renal insufficiency and related problems. To avoid this risk, an early effective antibiotic treatment is essential. Moreover, prompt treatment is mandatory to improve the clinical condition of the patient, prevent bacteraemia, and avoid the risk of bacterial localization in other body sites. However, antibiotic resistance for UTI-related bacterial pathogens continuously increases, making recommendations rapidly outdated and the definition of the best empiric antibiotic therapy more difficult. Variation in pathogen susceptibility to antibiotics is essential for the choice of an effective therapy. Moreover, proper identification of cases at increased risk of difficult-to-treat UTIs can reduce the risk of ineffective therapy. In this review, the problem of emerging antibiotic resistance among pathogens associated with the development of paediatric febrile UTIs and the best potential solutions to ensure the most effective therapy are discussed. Literature analysis showed that the emergence of antibiotic resistance is an unavoidable phenomenon closely correlated with the use of antibiotics themselves. To limit the emergence of resistance, every effort to reduce and rationalise antibiotic consumption must be made. An increased use of antibiotic stewardship can be greatly effective in this regard

Different Hydrophobins of Fusarium graminearum Are Involved in Hyphal Growth, Attachment, Water-Air Interface Penetration and Plant Infection

Hydrophobins (HPs) are small secreted fungal proteins possibly involved in several processes such as formation of fungal aerial structures, attachment to hydrophobic surfaces, interaction with the environment and protection against the host defense system. The genome of the necrotrophic plant pathogen Fusarium graminearum contains five genes encoding for HPs (FgHyd1-5). Single and triple FgHyd mutants were produced and characterized. A reduced growth was observed when the ΔFghyd2 and the three triple mutants including the deletion of FgHyd2 were grown in complete or minimal medium. Surprisingly, the growth of these mutants was similar to wild-type when grown under ionic, osmotic or oxidative stress conditions. All the mutant strains confirmed the ability to develop conidia and perithecia, suggesting that the FgHyds are not involved in normal development of asexual and sexual structures. A reduction in the ability of hyphae to penetrate through the water-air interface was observed for the single mutants ΔFghyd2 and ΔFghyd3 as well as for the triple mutants including the deletion of FgHyd2 and FgHyd3. Besides, ΔFghyd3 and the triple mutant ΔFghyd234 were also affected in the attachment to hydrophobic surface. Indeed, wheat infection experiments showed a reduction of symptomatic spikelets for ΔFghyd2 and ΔFghyd3 and the triple mutants only when spray inoculation was performed. This result could be ascribed to the affected ability of mutants deleted of FgHyd2 and FgHyd3 to penetrate through the water-air interface and to attach to hydrophobic surfaces such as the spike tissue. This hypothesis is strengthened by a histological analysis, performed by fluorescence microscopy, showing no defects in the morphology of infection structures produced by mutant strains. Interestingly, triple hydrophobin mutants were significantly more inhibited than wild-type by the treatment with a systemic triazole fungicide, while no defects at the cell wall level were observed