Impacto de las nanopartículas de magnetita sobre Bradyrhizobium japonicum

La soja es una planta leguminosa de gran importancia agronómica; nuestro país es el primer exportador de sus productos procesados y el tercer exportador mundial del grano. El cultivo de soja establece asociaciones simbióticas con la bacteria Bradyrhizobium japonicum, esto le permite incorporar nitrógeno de la atmósfera en los agrosistemas. Por tal motivo, se decidió estudiar los efectos de las nanopartículas (NPs) de magnetita sobre la bacteria B. japonicum.El efecto de diferentes concentraciones de NPs de magnetita (desde 1 hasta 50 ppm) sobre la multiplicación in vitro de B. japonicum fue estudiado mediante la técnica de microgota y se determinó la constante de crecimiento y el número de generaciones. El tratamiento de 10 ppm (NP10) mostró mayor tasa de crecimiento y número de generaciones; menor tiempo de duplicación respecto a los demás tratamientos. Por ello, se eligió dicha concentración de NP para continuar con los ensayos siguientes. Para evaluar si el efecto observado se debió a la NP en sí y no al agregado de Fe, los cultivos bacterianos fueron expuestos a 10 ppm de NPs de magnetita (NP10) o a la cantidad de Fe equivalente a la que provee la magnetita (Fe10) mediante un compuesto soluble, Fe-EDTA. Los resultados confirmaron que el hierro en tamaño NP (NP10) fue el responsable.Los rizobios producen polisacáridos extracelulares (PSE), tanto los exopolisacáridos liberados al medio (EPS), como aquellos adheridos a la superficie celular (CPS). La síntesis temprana de PSE es esencial para una simbiosis efectiva entre rizobios y leguminosas. El tratamiento NP10 produjo un incremento del 70% en el contenido de PSE, aumentó 4 veces el contenido de EPS e incrementó un 50% el contenido de CPS respecto al C. El tratamiento Fe10 provocó un aumento en el contenido de PSE menor que NP10 y esto se debió principalmente al incremento en el contenido de CPS. Se cuantificó el contenido de poli-hidroxibutirato (PHB) que es un compuesto de reserva cuando hay escasez de carbono extracelular. El tratamiento NP10 incrementó 7 veces este parámetro respecto al C y a Fe10.Se analizó la capacidad formadora de biofilm. El tratamiento NP10 duplicó este parámetro respecto al C y a Fe10. Se evaluó la supervivencia del rizobio en el medio de cultivo a diferentes tiempos (30, 45, 90, 120 días) conservados a 4°C o a 20°C de temperatura. Comparando los tratamientos bajo la misma temperatura de almacenaje, se observó que, tanto a 4°C como a 20°C, el tratamiento con NP presentó un incremento del 10% en la supervivencia bacteriana respecto al C y a Fe10.Estos resultados preliminares sugieren que las NPs de magnetita tendrían un efecto benéfico frente a B. japonicum ya que promueven la multiplicación in vitro, el contenido de PSE y de PHB. También estimulan la formación de biofilm y mejoran la viabilidad de los rizobios del inoculante. Por ello, las NPs podrían ser incorporadas en la formulación de inoculantes para optimizar el uso de organismos benéficos en la agricultura.Fil: de Valois, N.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Química Biológica. Cátedra de Química Biológica Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Di Baggio Vega, E.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Química Biológica. Cátedra de Química Biológica Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Zawoznik, M. S.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Química Biológica. Cátedra de Química Biológica Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Groppa, María Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Iannone, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaXIII Simposio de la Red de Laboratorios de biotecnología para América Latina y el CaribeArgentinaRed de Laboratorios de biotecnología para América Latina y el Carib

Subcellular compartmentation of glutathione in dicotyledonous plants

This study describes the subcellular distribution of glutathione in roots and leaves of different plant species (Arabidopsis, Cucurbita, and Nicotiana). Glutathione is an important antioxidant and redox buffer which is involved in many metabolic processes including plant defense. Thus information on the subcellular distribution in these model plants especially during stress situations provides a deeper insight into compartment specific defense reactions and reflects the occurrence of compartment specific oxidative stress. With immunogold cytochemistry and computer-supported transmission electron microscopy glutathione could be localized in highest contents in mitochondria, followed by nuclei, peroxisomes, the cytosol, and plastids. Within chloroplasts and mitochondria, glutathione was restricted to the stroma and matrix, respectively, and did not occur in the lumen of cristae and thylakoids. Glutathione was also found at the membrane and in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. It was also associated with the trans and cis side of dictyosomes. None or only very little glutathione was detected in vacuoles and the apoplast of mesophyll and root cells. Additionally, glutathione was found in all cell compartments of phloem vessels, vascular parenchyma cells (including vacuoles) but was absent in xylem vessels. The specificity of this method was supported by the reduction of glutathione labeling in all cell compartments (up to 98%) of the glutathione-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana rml1 mutant. Additionally, we found a similar distribution of glutathione in samples after conventional fixation and rapid microwave-supported fixation. Thus, indicating that a redistribution of glutathione does not occur during sample preparation. Summing up, this study gives a detailed insight into the subcellular distribution of glutathione in plants and presents solid evidence for the accuracy and specificity of the applied method

Search for endophytic diazotrophs in barley seeds

Eight endophytic isolates assigned to Pseudomonas, Azospirillum, and Bacillus genera according to pheno-genotypic features were retrieved from barley seeds under selective pressure for nitrogen-fixers. Genetic relationships among related isolates were investigated through RAPD. Six isolates displayed nitrogen-fixing ability, while all could biosynthesize indolacetic acid in vitro and showed no antibiosis effects against Azospirillum brasilense Az39, a recognized PGPR

Growth, nodulation, and yield of soybean and associated weeds as affected by weed management Crescimento, nodulacão, e rendimento da soja influenciados por diferentes manejo de plantas daninhas

Two field experiments were conducted at the experimental farm of the National Research Centre at Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate, Egypt, during 2006 and 2007 seasons, to study the effect of three pre-emergence herbicides, prometryn [at the rate of 0.75, 1.5 and 2.25 kg ha-1], oxadiargyl [at the rate of 240, 480 and 720 g ha-1] and butralin [at the rate of 1.20, 2.40 and 3.36 kg ha-1], two hand hoeing treatments and a nonweeded check, on weed infestation, nodulation, growth, yield and yield attributes of soybean plants. Two hand hoeing treatments resulted in the highest weed depression expressed as the lowest fresh and dry weights of broadleaved, grassy and total weeds. The reduction percentage in weed dry matter compared to the nonweeded treatment was 98.3, 92.64 and 96.9% in broadleaved, grassy and total weeds, respectively. Application of the three herbicides at higher or recommended doses significantly reduced fresh and dry weight of the weeds compared to the nonweeded treatment. The results indicated that all the three herbicides at rates higher than the recommended markedly decreased the number, fresh and dry weight of nodules as well as root, shoot and total dry weight plant-1, while application of two hand hoeing treatments significantly increased these traits. Two hand hoeing treatments and pre-emergence herbicides at the recommended rates markedly increased soybean yield and its attributes. Two hand hoeing treatments gave the highest values of number of pods per plant-1, weight of pods per plant-1 and number of seeds per plant-1 by 140.7, 150.0 and 59.8%, respectively, compared to the nonweeded treatment. On the other hand, oxadiargyl at the recommended rate (480 g ha-1) was the best treatment for promoting seed yield (g plant-1), seed yield (kg ha-1) and biological yield (g plant-1) compared to the nonweeded treatment by 87.3, 85.0 and 88.2%, respectively. Prometryn at the rate of 1.50 kg ha-1, followed by two hand hoeing treatments, produced the highest shoot and seed protein percentage as well as seed oil percentage, compared to the other weed control treatments.<br>Dois experimentos de campo foram conduzidos na fazenda experimental do Centro de Pesquisa Nacional em Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate, Egito, durante 2006 e 2007, para estudar o efeito de três herbicidas de pré-emergência, prometryn [doses de 0.75, 1.5 e 2.25 kg ha-1], oxadiargyl [doses de 240, 480 e 720 g ha-1] e butralin [doses de 1.20, 2.40 e 3.36 kg ha-1], dois tratamentos capinados e um controle sem capina, avaliando a infestação de plantas daninhas, a nodulação, o crescimento, o rendimento, e os componentes do rendimento em plantas de soja. Dois tratamentos resultaram em maior redução de plantas daninhas expressa em menores pesos frescos e secos das plantas dicotiledôneas, gramíneas e total. A percentagem de matérias das plantas daninhas comparada ao tratamento sem capina foi de 98.3, 92.64 e 96.9% em dicotiledôneas, gramíneas e total de plantas infestantes, respectivamente. A aplicação de três herbicidas em doses maiores ou nas doses recomendadas reduziu significantemente o peso fresco e seco das plantas daninhas comparado com o tratamento com capina. Os resultados indicaram que todos os três herbicidas nas maiores doses diminuíram o número, peso fresco e seco dos nódulos, raiz, caule e peso seco total da planta, enquanto duas capinas manuais aumentaram significativamente das características citadas. Duas capinas manuais e os herbicidas de pré-emergência aplicados nas doses recomendadas aumentaram o rendimento da soja e seus atributos. Duas capinas manuais produziram maiores números de vagens por planta, peso de vagem por planta e número de sementes por planta em 140,7; 150,0 e 59,8%, respectivamente, comparado ao tratamento capinado. Por outro lado, oxadiargyl aplicado na dose recomendada (480 g ha-1) apresentou maior rendimento de semente (g planta-1), rendimento de semente (kg ha-1) e rendimento biológico (g planta-1) que o tratamento sem capina em 87,3; 85,0 e 88,2%, respectivamente. Prometryn na dose de 1,50 kg ha-1, seguido de duas capinas manuais produziu a maior percentagem de proteína na parte aérea e sementes como também de óleo na semente, comparado a outros tratamentos de controle de plantas daninhas

Positive effects of salicylic acid pretreatment on the composition of flax plastidial membrane lipids under cadmium stress

Interest in use of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) as cadmium (Cd)-accumulating plant for phytoextraction of contaminated soils opened up a new and promising avenue toward improving tolerance of its varieties and cultivars to Cd stress. The aim of this study is to get insights into the mechanisms of Cd detoxification in cell membranes, by exploring the effects of salicylic acid (SA)-induced priming on fatty acids and lipid composition of flax plantlets, grown for 10 days with 50 and 100 μM Cd. At leaf level, levels of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and neutral lipids (NL) have shifted significantly in flax plantlets exposed to toxic CdCl2 concentrations, as compared to that of the control. At 100 μM Cd, the linoleic acid (C18:2) decreases mainly in digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) and all phospholipid species, while linolenic acid (C18:3) declines mostly in MGDG and NL. Conversely, at the highest concentration of the metal, SA significantly enhances the levels of MGDG, PG and phosphatidic acid (PA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids mainly C18:2 and C18:3. Furthermore, SA pretreatment seems to reduce the Cd-induced alterations in both plastidial and extraplastidial lipid classes, but preferentially preserves the plastidial lipids by acquiring higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These results suggest that flax plantlets pretreated with SA exhibits more stability of their membranes under Cd-stress conditions.This research was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technology in TunisiaPeer reviewe