Phenolic Compounds and Peroxidases in Sunflower Near-Isogenic Lines After Downy Mildew Infection

Two near-isogenic lines of sunflower, resistant (+Pl6 gene) and susceptible (-P16 gene) to downy mildew were used in this paper. Secondary infection with a suspension of Plasmopara halstedii spores was done on the plants in the phase of first pair of leaves. In the samples taken 12 h after infection, content of phenolic compounds in methanolic extracts from frozen leaves was analysed by HPLC. POD activity was determined spectrophotmetrically and POD isoforms by isoelectrophoresis. Constitutive level of phenolic compounds and their accumulation after infection were higher in the susceptible than in the resistant line. Increased POD amount in leaf, constitutively present in NS-H-26R, was in correlation with increased guaiacol-dependent POD activity and low total phenolics contents. After infection, guaiacol- and chlorogenic acid-dependent POD activity significantly increased in both lines. Scopoletin-dependent POD activity was induced upon infection only in NS-H-26R. IEF electrophoresis revealed existance of four anionic isoforms of peroxidase in leaves of both lines. The main isoform with pI 5 was particularly intesified in the resistant line. In conclusion, scopoletin-dependent POD activity that was induced upon infection only in resistant NIL indicates a specific role of POD in coumarin metabolism that is possibly connected with the presence of Pl6 gene

Chemical composition, antiproliferative and antioxidant activity of differently processed Ganoderma lucidum ethanol extracts

The content of phenolic compounds (TPC) and glucans, as well as the effectiveness of antiproliferative and antioxidant activity of differently processed Ganoderma lucidum ethanol extracts were determined and compared. The content of glucans (total, alpha- and beta-) strongly depended on the extraction time and particle size, but only interaction of these parameters influenced the TPC. Gallic acid, quercetin, trans-cinnamic acid, kaempferol, hesperetin and naringenin were detected in extracts by HPLC-DAD. The most abundant phenols were hesperetin (1.875-3.222 mu g/g) and naringenin (1.235-2.856 mu g/g). The ethanol extracts exhibited noteworthy antioxidant activity, but the significant amount of phenolic compounds was strongly linked to polysaccharides, and hence reduced their antioxidant capacity. The results of the antiproliferative activity in vitro showed that the analyzed extracts were the most effective against HeLa cells. Significant correlations were observed between the antiproliferative effect and the TPC/glucan content of extracts

Model oceny środowiskowej zrównoważonej konkurencyjnej turystyki opartej na entropii

Despite the valuable economic benefits of tourism, it must be highlighted that the tourism industry is an important source of stress for the environment with the main influence on tourist destinations. The aim of this study is to investigate the elements of environmental sustainability in tourism as key factors in the competitiveness of tourism using entropy methods. According to the authors’ knowledge, it is the first time that the entropy model applied to Environmental sustainability indicators, regarding entropy as a measure of non-uniformity among sustainability indicators of EU countries. The data of the EU were used and Environmental sustainability pillar of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index. The results show that the total entropy of the competitiveness of tourism within the environmental sustainability sub-index of the EU countries speaks in favor of the uniformity of the indicators. The study also reveals significant differences among the EU27 in the domain of the Global Climate Risk index, Baseline water stress and Forest cover loss. Furthermore, convergence has been achieved so far in the indicators Red List Index and Environmental treaty ratification. Finally, the methodological approach of this study has the potential to be extrapolated worldwide, especially in the future era of global environmental problems.ważnym źródłem stresu dla środowiska, wpływającego na wybierane destynacje turystyczne. Celem niniejszej pracy jest zbadanie elementów zrównoważenia środowiskowego w turystyce jako kluczowych czynników konkurencyjności turystyki przy użyciu metod entropii. Według wiedzy autorów po raz pierwszy zastosowano model entropii do wskaźników zrównoważenia środowiskowego, traktując entropię jako miarę niejednorodności wskaźników zrównoważenia krajów UE. Wykorzystano dane z UE i filar zrównoważonego rozwoju środowiskowego Indeksu konkurencyjności w zakresie podróży i turystyki. Wyniki pokazują, że za jednolitością wskaźników przemawia łączna entropia konkurencyjności turystyki w ramach subindeksu zrównoważenia środowiskowego krajów UE. Badanie ujawnia również znaczne różnice między krajami UE-27 w dziedzinie globalnego wskaźnika ryzyka klimatycznego, podstawowego stresu wodnego i utraty pokrywy leśnej. Ponadto osiągnięto dotychczas zbieżność wskaźników Czerwonej Listy i ratyfikacji traktatu środowiskowego. Wreszcie, metodologiczne podłoże tego badania ma potencjał do ekstrapolacji na cały świat, zwłaszcza w erze globalnych problemów środowiskowych

Peroxidase, phenolics, and antioxidative capacity of common mullein (verbascum thapsus l.) Grown in a zinc excess

Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus L.) is the dominant plant species at a disposal site polluted with metal from the hydrometallurgical jarosite zinc production process. Seeds collected at the site were germinated and plants were grown hydroponically under controlled conditions in a excess of Zn. Induction of total soluble POD activity in the root occurred at 1, 5, and 10 mM Zn, indicating Zn accumulation within the root. Accumulation of Zn in leaves was not accompanied by changes in POD activity, but resulted in gradual increase of total antioxidative capacity, which could be partly attributed to accumulation of soluble phenolics. The role of the phenolics/POD system in defense of V thapsus against zinc is discussed

Induction of peroxidase isoforms in the roots of two Verbascum thapsus L. populations is involved in adaptive responses to excess Zn2+ and Cu2+

To investigate metal specific responses of root class III peroxidases (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), two populations of Verbascum thapsus L. were exposed to excess Zn2+ or Cu2+ for three weeks in hydroponic culture. One population originating from an uncontaminated area (NMET) and one from an industrial disposal area for jarosite residues from zinc refining (MET) were chosen to test the capacity of V. thapsus to adapt to excess metal in the soil. Exposure to 60 μM Zn2+ led to increased levels of protein carbonyl groups only in the roots of NMET, which was accompanied by higher increase of POD activity and NADH-oxidase activity compared with MET plants. New anionic and cationic POD isoforms were induced in the roots of both populations in response to Zn2+ treatment, while IAA-oxidase activity decreased. On the other hand, root growth was more affected by Cu2+ than Zn2+ in both populations, which was correlated with increased auxin-oxidase (IAA-oxidase) activity. Cu2+ induced an increased activity of anionic POD isoforms in the roots of both populations, yet the ratio of NADH-oxidative to peroxidative POD activity remained higher in NMET than in MET plants. Overall results show differential effects of Zn2+ and Cu2+ on POD activity in the roots of V. thapsus L. In addition, higher tolerance to Zn2+ in MET plants than in NMET indicated that these plants have developed an adaptive mechanism to cope with Zn2+ excess

Cell wall-bound cationic and anionic class III isoperoxidases of pea root: biochemical characterization and function in root growth

Cell wall isolated from pea roots was used to separate and characterize two fractions possessing class III peroxidase activity: (i) ionically bound proteins and (ii) covalently bound proteins. Modified SDS-PAGE separated peroxidase isoforms by their apparent molecular weights: four bands of 56, 46, 44, and 41 kDa were found in the ionically bound fraction (iPOD) and one band (70 kDa) was resolved after treatment of the cell wall with cellulase and pectinase (cPOD). Isoelectric focusing (IEF) patterns for iPODs and cPODs were significantly different: five iPODs with highly cationic pI (9.5-9.2) were detected, whereas the nine cPODs were anionic with pI values between pH 3.7 and 5. iPODs and cPODs showed rather specific substrate affinity and different sensitivity to inhibitors, heat, and deglycosylation treatments. Peroxidase and oxidase activities and their IEF patterns for both fractions were determined in different zones along the root and in roots of different ages. New iPODs with pI 9.34 and 9.5 were induced with root growth, while the activity of cPODs was more related to the formation of the cell wall in non-elongating tissue. Treatment with auxin that inhibits root growth led to suppression of iPOD and induction of cPOD. A similar effect was obtained with the widely used elicitor, chitosan, which also induced cPODs with pI 5.3 and 5.7, which may be specifically related to pathogen defence. The differences reported here between biochemical properties of cPOD and iPOD and their differential induction during development and under specific treatments implicate that they are involved in specific and different physiological processes

Induction of peroxidase isoforms in the roots of two Verbascum thapsus L. populations is involved in adaptive responses to excess Zn2+ and Cu2+

To investigate metal specific responses of root class III peroxidases (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), two populations of Verbascum thapsus L. were exposed to excess Zn2+ or Cu2+ for three weeks in hydroponic culture. One population originating from an uncontaminated area (NMET) and one from an industrial disposal area for jarosite residues from zinc refining (MET) were chosen to test the capacity of V. thapsus to adapt to excess metal in the soil. Exposure to 60 μM Zn2+ led to increased levels of protein carbonyl groups only in the roots of NMET, which was accompanied by higher increase of POD activity and NADH-oxidase activity compared with MET plants. New anionic and cationic POD isoforms were induced in the roots of both populations in response to Zn2+ treatment, while IAA-oxidase activity decreased. On the other hand, root growth was more affected by Cu2+ than Zn2+ in both populations, which was correlated with increased auxin-oxidase (IAA-oxidase) activity. Cu2+ induced an increased activity of anionic POD isoforms in the roots of both populations, yet the ratio of NADH-oxidative to peroxidative POD activity remained higher in NMET than in MET plants. Overall results show differential effects of Zn2+ and Cu2+ on POD activity in the roots of V. thapsus L. In addition, higher tolerance to Zn2+ in MET plants than in NMET indicated that these plants have developed an adaptive mechanism to cope with Zn2+ excess

Antioxidative response in variegated Pelargonium zonale leaves and generation of extracellular H2O2 in (peri)vascular tissue induced by sunlight and paraquat

In this study we exposed variegated leaves of Pelargonium zonale to strong sunlight ( gt 1100 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) of photosynthetically active radiation) with and without paraquat (Pq), with the aim to elucidate the mechanisms of H2O2 regulation in green and white tissues with respect to the photosynthetically-dependent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sunlight induced marked accumulation of H2O2 in the apoplast of vascular and (peri)vascular tissues only in green sectors. This effect was enhanced by the addition of Pq. In the presence of diphenyl iodide, an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, H2O2 accumulation was abolished. Distinct light-induced responses were observed: in photosynthetic cells, sunlight rapidly provoked ascorbate (Asc) biosynthesis and an increase of glutathione reductase (GR) and catalase activities, while in non-photosynthetic cells, early up-regulation of soluble ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) and GR activities was observed. Paraquat addition stimulated DHAR and GR activities in green sectors, while in white sectors activities of monodehydroascorbate reductase, DHAR and class III peroxidases, as well as Asc content rapidly increased. Differential antioxidative responses in the two tissues in the frame of their contrasting metabolisms, and the possible role of (peri)vascular H2O2 in signaling were discussed.This is the peer reviewed version of the paper: Vidović, M., Morina, F., Prokić, L., Milić-Komić, S., Živanović, B., & Jovanović, S. V. (2016). Antioxidative response in variegated Pelargonium zonale leaves and generation of extracellular H2O2 in (peri)vascular tissue induced by sunlight and paraquat. Journal of Plant Physiology, 206, 25–39. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jplph.2016.07.017

Leaf Soluble Sugars and Free Amino Acids as Important Components of Abscisic Acid-Mediated Drought Response in Tomato

Water deficit has a global impact on plant growth and crop yield. Climate changes are going to increase the intensity, duration and frequency of severe droughts, particularly in southern and south-eastern Europe, elevating the water scarcity issues. We aimed to assess the contribution of endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) in the protective mechanisms against water deficit, including stomatal conductance, relative water potential and the accumulation of osmoprotectants, as well as on growth parameters. To achieve that, we used a suitable model system, ABA-deficient tomato mutant, flacca and its parental line. Flacca mutant exhibited constitutively higher levels of soluble sugars (e.g., galactose, arabinose, sorbitol) and free amino acids (AAs) compared with the wild type (WT). Water deficit provoked the strong accumulation of proline in both genotypes, and total soluble sugars only in flacca. Upon re-watering, these osmolytes returned to the initial levels in both genotypes. Our results indicate that flacca compensated higher stomatal conductance with a higher constitutive level of free sugars and AAs. Additionally, we suggest that the accumulation of AAs, particularly proline and its precursors and specific branched-chain AAs in both, glucose and sucrose in flacca, and sorbitol in WT, could contribute to maintaining growth rate during water deficit and recovery in both tomato genotypes

Epizootiološka situacija afričke kuge svinja u Evropi

African swine fever (ASF) is a viral disease of domestic pigs and wild boar. Due to the very serious socioeconomic consequences, the disease is one of the most important ones nowadays. African swine fever is an enzootic disease in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, in Sardinia, and Trans Caucasus countries. After its occurrence in Georgia in 2007, ASF spread to Armenia and Russian Federation, and in 2008. to Azerbaijan. Since then, its progressive moving toward the west has been recorded. Despite the number of undertaken preventive and control measures in the European Union (EU), ASF has been still spreading. During 2017, the disease has been reported in domestic pigs in Estonia, Italy-Sardinia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. ASF cases in domestic pigs have also been reported in Moldova in 2017. The number of diagnosed cases in wild boar in 2017 is much higher than in domestic pigs. ASF outbreak in wild boar in the Czech Republic well describes the possible viral 'jump' into a new region. The source of infection hasn't been confirmed yet, but it is common that such leaps are due to either swill feeding or improperly disposal of food rather than to the animal movements. Since the lack of effective vaccine makes eradication even more difficult, the prevention of viral entry into the new areas is of the most importance. With the same aim, since 2011.the surveillance of ASF has been implemented in Serbia.Afrička kuga svinja (AKS) je virusna bolest domaćih i divljih svinja. Socioekonomske posledice ove bolesti svrstavaju je u najznačajnije bolesti današnjice. Afrička kuga svinja je enzootska bolest u mnogim zemljama južno od Sahare, na Sardiniji i Kavkazu. Pošto se pojavila 2007. godine u Gruziji, AKS se iste godine proširila na Jermeniju i Rusiju, a 2008. na Azerbejdžan. Od tada se beleži progresivno kretanje virusa ka zapadu. Uprkos svim preventivnim i kontrolnim merama koje se sprovode u Evropskoj uniji (EU), afrička kuga svinja se i dalje širi. Tokom 2017. godine kod domaćih svinja je dokazana u Estoniji, Italiji - Sardinija, Letoniji, Litvaniji, Poljskoj, Rumuniji i Ukrajini. Slučajevi AKS kod domaćih svinja u Moldaviji su takođe registrovani i u 2017. godini. Broj dijagnostikovanih slučajeva kod divljih svinja u 2017. je značajno veći u odnosu na broj slučajeva kod domaćih. Pojava AKS u Češkoj 2017. godine kod divljih svinja predstavlja veliki "skok" virusa u novo područje. Izvor infekcije još uvek nije potvrđen, ali je uobičajeno da se ovakve pojave dešavaju kao posledica hranjenja životinja ostacima hrane, a ne zbog kretanja životinja. Budući da je iskorenjivanje AKS veoma otežano u odsustvu efikasne vakcine, prevencija unosa virusa u nova područja je od najvećeg značaja. Sa tim ciljem, u Srbiji se od 2011. godine sprovodi nadzor kod divljih svinja na afričku kugu