Chemical PARP Inhibition Enhances Growth of Arabidopsis and Reduces Anthocyanin Accumulation and the Activation of Stress Protective Mechanisms

Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) post-translationally modifies proteins through the addition of ADP-ribose polymers, yet its role in modulating plant development and stress responses is only poorly understood. The experiments presented here address some of the gaps in our understanding of its role in stress tolerance and thereby provide new insights into tolerance mechanisms and growth. Using a combination of chemical and genetic approaches, this study characterized phenotypes associated with PARP inhibition at the physiological level. Molecular analyses including gene expression analysis, measurement of primary metabolites and redox metabolites were used to understand the underlying processes. The analysis revealed that PARP inhibition represses anthocyanin and ascorbate accumulation under stress conditions. The reduction in defense is correlated with enhanced biomass production. Even in unstressed conditions protective genes and molecules are repressed by PARP inhibition. The reduced anthocyanin production was shown to be based on the repression of transcription of key regulatory and biosynthesis genes. PARP is a key factor for understanding growth and stress responses of plants. PARP inhibition allows plants to reduce protection such as anthocyanin, ascorbate or Non-Photochemical-Quenching whilst maintaining high energy levels likely enabling the observed enhancement of biomass production under stress, opening interesting perspectives for increasing crop productivity

Prospect and potential of Burkholderia sp. against Phytophthora capsici Leonian: a causative agent for foot rot disease of black pepper

Foot rot disease is a very destructive disease in black pepper in Malaysia. It is caused by Phytophthora capsici Leonian, which is a soilborne pathogenic protist (phylum, Oomycota) that infects aerial and subterranean structures of many host plants. This pathogen is a polycyclic, such that multiple cycles of infection and inoculum production occur in a single growing season. It is more prevalent in the tropics because of the favourable environmental conditions. The utilization of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as a biological control agent has been successfully implemented in controlling many plant pathogens. Many studies on the exploration of beneficial organisms have been carried out such as Pseudomonas fluorescens, which is one of the best examples used for the control of Fusarium wilt in tomato. Similarly, P. fluorescens is found to be an effective biocontrol agent against the foot rot disease in black pepper. Nowadays there is tremendous novel increase in the species of Burkholderia with either mutualistic or antagonistic interactions in the environment. Burkholderia sp. is an indigenous PGPR capable of producing a large number of commercially important hydrolytic enzymes and bioactive substances that promote plant growth and health; are eco-friendly, biodegradable and specific in their actions; and have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity in keeping down the population of phytopathogens, thus playing a great role in promoting sustainable agriculture today. Hence, in this book chapter, the potential applications of Burkholderia sp. to control foot rot disease of black pepper in Malaysia, their control mechanisms, plant growth promotion, commercial potentials and the future prospects as indigenous PGPR were discussed in relation to sustainable agriculture

Soil and Land-Use Distribution over a Part of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (N. India) Deduced from the Optical Interpretation of Landsat-2 Multispectral Imagery

The objective of this study was to compare and to correlate ground observations, gathered over the area, with 10 Landsat scenes and to prepare soil and land-use distribution maps of a complex landscape, located between 73°50\u27 and 79°50\u27 longitude and 26°10\u27 and 31°16\u27N latitude. The problems of the area are related to soil, land-use and water management planning, erosion, salinity-alkalinity, drought, leveling, high water table, inadequate drainage, etc. In this study all multispectral color composites, prepared either from positive band 4,5 and 6 or 7, or from negative, contrast enhanced, band 5 and 7, were projected on a blank map (scale: 1/500.000). Areas homogeneous in color or pattern were delineated and identified, based on a generalized interpretation key and by comparison with ground information. The composites yield good pictures of drainage pattern, geomorphic features and major landforms which are helpful to recognize soil boundaries associated with climate and vegetal change, soil parent materials, topographic change and landscape units. A good correlation was found between major landforms discerned on the imagery and major soil units. In developing countries where soil maps at the scale of 1/500.000 or 1/1.000.000 are incomplete or existing maps require revision, synoptic satellite imagery may be beneficial for long term and short term soil and water management projects

MOMS-02 and its Contribution in Future Development of Northeastern Brazil (Salvador de Bahia, Brasilien)

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