Fusarium oxysporum infection activates the plastidial branch of the terpenoid biosynthesis pathway in flax, leading to increased ABA synthesis.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Upregulation of the terpenoid pathway and increased ABA content in flax upon Fusarium infection leads to activation of the early plant's response (PR genes, cell wall remodeling, and redox status). Plants have developed a number of defense strategies against the adverse effects of fungi such as Fusarium oxysporum. One such defense is the production of antioxidant secondary metabolites, which fall into two main groups: the phenylpropanoids and the terpenoids. While functions and biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids have been extensively studied, very little is known about the genes controlling the terpenoid synthesis pathway in flax. They can serve as antioxidants, but are also substrates for a plethora of different compounds, including those of regulatory functions, like ABA. ABA's function during pathogen attack remains obscure and often depends on the specific plant-pathogen interactions. In our study we showed that in flax the non-mevalonate pathway is strongly activated in the early hours of pathogen infection and that there is a redirection of metabolites towards ABA synthesis. The elevated synthesis of ABA correlates with flax resistance to F. oxysporum, thus we suggest ABA to be a positive regulator of the plant's early response to the infection.

The Potential of Plant Phenolics in Prevention and Therapy of Skin Disorders.

Phenolic compounds constitute a group of secondary metabolites which have important functions in plants. Besides the beneficial effects on the plant host, phenolic metabolites (polyphenols) exhibit a series of biological properties that influence the human in a health-promoting manner. Evidence suggests that people can benefit from plant phenolics obtained either by the diet or through skin application, because they can alleviate symptoms and inhibit the development of various skin disorders. Due to their natural origin and low toxicity, phenolic compounds are a promising tool in eliminating the causes and effects of skin aging, skin diseases, and skin damage, including wounds and burns. Polyphenols also act protectively and help prevent or attenuate the progression of certain skin disorders, both embarrassing minor problems (e.g., wrinkles, acne) or serious, potentially life-threatening diseases such as cancer. This paper reviews the latest reports on the potential therapy of skin disorders through treatment with phenolic compounds, considering mostly a single specific compound or a combination of compounds in a plant extract.

[The development, differentiation and composition of flax fiber cells]. / Rozwój, róznicowanie sie i sklad komórek wlókna lnianego.

Having vascular origin, flax fiber belongs to the sclerenchyma (steroids) and its structure is limited to the cell wall. What determines fiber properties is its composition, which in practice means the composition of the secondary cell wall. It consists of four main polymers which constitute approximately 90% of the fiber: cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, and a variety of secondary metabolites, proteins, waxes and inorganic compounds. The cell wall is a structure with a high complexity of both the composition and interactions of the particular elements between themselves. It is determined by differentiation and cell growth as well as environmental factors, biotic and abiotic stresses. The molecular background of these processes and mechanisms regulating the synthesis and rearrangement of secondary cell walls components are being intensively studied. In this work we described the latest news about the development, composition and metabolism of flax fiber cell wall components together with the molecular explanation of these processes.