Macro and Micro-Nutrient Accumulation and Partitioning in Soybean Affected by Water and Nitrogen Supply.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of water availability and nitrogen fertilization on plant growth, nutrient dynamics, and variables related to soybean crop yield. Trials were performed in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, using randomized blocks in a split-split plot arrangement. The plots corresponded to water regimes (full and deficient), the split plots to N fertilization (0 and 1000 kg ha-1 N-urea), and the split-split plots to harvest times of soybean plants (16, 23, 30, 37, 44, 58, 65, 79 and 86 days after emergence), with three replicates. In general, the accumulation and partitioning of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) were decreased in plants subjected to water deficit and without N fertilization. Although nitrogen fertilization promoted elevated N accumulation in tissues, it did not result in any significant yield gain, and the highest seed yields were found in plants under full irrigation, regardless of N supplementation. However, deficient irrigation decreased the seed oil content of N-fertilized plants. In conclusion, N fertilization is critical for nutrient homeostasis, and water availability impairs biomass and nutrient accumulation, thereby limiting soybean yield performance.

Inoculation of Trichoderma asperelloides ameliorates aluminum stress-induced damages by improving growth, photosynthetic pigments and organic solutes in maize.

Excess aluminum (Al) is a stressful condition that affects plant growth and yield quality. This study evaluates growth responses and changes in the contents of photosynthetic pigments and organic solute in maize (Zea mays L.) plants inoculated with Trichoderma asperelloides isolates (T01, T02, T74, T76, or T96) and treated with increasing doses of Al (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 µM of Al). Uninoculated unstressed plants served as control. Absolute growth rate, root length, dry biomass (shoot, roots and total) and shoot:root ratio were significantly affected in Al-stressed maize plants inoculated with T. asperelloides. Also, chlorophylls (a, b and total) were significantly reduced, whereas carotenoids and anthocyanins increased in those plants. Except for carotenoids, all parameters increased in plants inoculated with T. asperelloides, especially T01 or T02 isolates. Anthocyanins increased by 50% in plants inoculated with T74 and treated with 100 or 150 µM Al as compared to control plants. Total soluble carbohydrates increased by 74% and 101% in plants inoculated with T74 and T76, respectively, and treated with 200 µM Al. Total free amino acids increased more than 50% in plants inoculated with T02 and treated with 150 and 200 µM Al. Free prolines increased by 90%, 145% and 165% in plants inoculated with T74 and treated 100, 150 and 200 µM Al, respectively, in comparison to the unstressed control plants. We concluded that T. asperelloides positively affected growth, photosynthetic pigments, and organic solutes of Al-stressed plants, especially those inoculated with T01, T02, or T74 isolates. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03310-3.

Isolation and Characterization of Plant Growth-Promotion Diazotrophic Endophytic Bacteria Associated to Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) Grown in Paraíba, Brazil

Abstract: Sugarcane is an important Brazilian commodity, being usually cultivated in soils with low natural fertility. This study aimed to isolate diazotrophic endophytes from sugarcane tissues and evaluate the morphological and physiological characteristics of their colonies as well as their plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits in select diazotrophic endophytic bacteria. Fifty-six bacterial isolates were identified in the sugarcane tissues, and these isolates presented distinct morphological and physiological traits. A total of thirty-five bacterial isolates were biochemically evaluated. Overall, Bacillus was the dominant genus. Isolates of Methylobacterium spp. and Brevibacillus agri were present only in leaves, while Herbaspirillum seropedicae occurred only in stems. Except to IPA-CF45A, all isolates were nitrogenase positive. All endophytes exhibit production of indol 3-acetic acid. Over 50% of endophytes solubilize phosphate, release N-acyl homoserine lactones, and present the activity of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase, catalase, lipase and protease. The network analysis showed that isolates belonged to Burkholderia, Herbaspirillum, and Methylobacterium interact with Bacillus. Bacterial endophytes exhibited distinct morphological, physiological, and PGP traits that are useful for sustainable agriculture, highlighting the isolates IPA-CC33, IPA-CF65, IPA-CC9 and IPA-CF27. Further studies on the effects of these diazotrophic endophytes and their potential for providing microbial inoculants for improving sugarcane fields will provide valuable information to maintain the sustainability and environment quality.

Changes induced by co-inoculation in nitrogen-carbon metabolism in cowpea under salinity stress

ABSTRACT To mitigate the deleterious effects of abiotic stress, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria along with diazotrophic bacteria has been increasing. The objectives of this study were to investigate the key enzymes related to nitrogen and carbon metabolism in the biological nitrogen fixation process and to elucidate the activities of these enzymes by the synergistic interaction between Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria in the absence and presence of salt stress. Cowpea plants were cultivated under axenic conditions, inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Actinomadura sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Paenibacillus graminis, and Bradyrhizobium sp. and Streptomycessp.; the plants were also maintained in the absence (control) and presence of salt stress (50 mmolL-1 NaCl). Salinity reduced the amino acids, free ammonia, ureides, proteins and total nitrogen content in nodules and increased the levels of sucrose and soluble sugars. The co-inoculations responded differently to the activity of glutamine synthetase enzymes under salt stress, as well as glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase aminating, and acid invertase in the control and salt stress. Considering the development conditions of this experiment, co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp. in cowpea provided better symbiotic performance, mitigating the deleterious effects of salt stress.

Antioxidant response of cowpea co-inoculated with plant growth-promoting bacteria under salt stress

Abstract Soil salinity is an important abiotic stress worldwide, and salt-induced oxidative stress can have detrimental effects on the biological nitrogen fixation. We hypothesized that co-inoculation of cowpea plants with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria would minimize the deleterious effects of salt stress via the induction of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative protection. To test our hypothesis, cowpea seeds were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria and then submitted to salt stress. Afterward, the cowpea nodules were collected, and the levels of hydrogen peroxide; lipid peroxidation; total, reduced and oxidized forms of ascorbate and glutathione; and superoxide dismutase, catalase and phenol peroxidase activities were evaluated. The sodium and potassium ion concentrations were measured in shoot samples. Cowpea plants did not present significant differences in sodium and potassium levels when grown under non-saline conditions, but sodium content was strongly increased under salt stress conditions. Under non-saline and salt stress conditions, plants co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Actinomadura or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Paenibacillus graminis showed lower hydrogen peroxide content in their nodules, whereas lipid peroxidation was increased by 31% in plants that were subjected to salt stress. Furthermore, cowpea nodules co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria and exposed to salt stress displayed significant alterations in the total, reduced and oxidized forms of ascorbate and glutathione. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria induced increased superoxide dismutase, catalase and phenol peroxidase activities in the nodules of cowpea plants exposed to salt stress. The catalase activity in plants co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Streptomyces was 55% greater than in plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium alone, and this value was remarkably greater than that in the other treatments. These results reinforce the beneficial effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria on the antioxidant system that detoxifies reactive oxygen species. We concluded that the combination of Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria induces positive responses for coping with salt-induced oxidative stress in cowpea nodules, mainly in plants co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and P. graminis or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Bacillus.

Changes induced by co-inoculation in nitrogen-carbon metabolism in cowpea under salinity stress.

To mitigate the deleterious effects of abiotic stress, the use of plant growth-promoting bacteria along with diazotrophic bacteria has been increasing. The objectives of this study were to investigate the key enzymes related to nitrogen and carbon metabolism in the biological nitrogen fixation process and to elucidate the activities of these enzymes by the synergistic interaction between Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria in the absence and presence of salt stress. Cowpea plants were cultivated under axenic conditions, inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Actinomadura sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp., Bradyrhizobium sp. and Paenibacillus graminis, and Bradyrhizobium sp. and Streptomycessp.; the plants were also maintained in the absence (control) and presence of salt stress (50mmolL-1 NaCl). Salinity reduced the amino acids, free ammonia, ureides, proteins and total nitrogen content in nodules and increased the levels of sucrose and soluble sugars. The co-inoculations responded differently to the activity of glutamine synthetase enzymes under salt stress, as well as glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase aminating, and acid invertase in the control and salt stress. Considering the development conditions of this experiment, co-inoculation with Bradyrhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp. in cowpea provided better symbiotic performance, mitigating the deleterious effects of salt stress.

Antioxidant response of cowpea co-inoculated with plant growth-promoting bacteria under salt stress.

Soil salinity is an important abiotic stress worldwide, and salt-induced oxidative stress can have detrimental effects on the biological nitrogen fixation. We hypothesized that co-inoculation of cowpea plants with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria would minimize the deleterious effects of salt stress via the induction of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative protection. To test our hypothesis, cowpea seeds were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria and then submitted to salt stress. Afterward, the cowpea nodules were collected, and the levels of hydrogen peroxide; lipid peroxidation; total, reduced and oxidized forms of ascorbate and glutathione; and superoxide dismutase, catalase and phenol peroxidase activities were evaluated. The sodium and potassium ion concentrations were measured in shoot samples. Cowpea plants did not present significant differences in sodium and potassium levels when grown under non-saline conditions, but sodium content was strongly increased under salt stress conditions. Under non-saline and salt stress conditions, plants co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Actinomadura or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Paenibacillus graminis showed lower hydrogen peroxide content in their nodules, whereas lipid peroxidation was increased by 31% in plants that were subjected to salt stress. Furthermore, cowpea nodules co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria and exposed to salt stress displayed significant alterations in the total, reduced and oxidized forms of ascorbate and glutathione. Inoculation with Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria induced increased superoxide dismutase, catalase and phenol peroxidase activities in the nodules of cowpea plants exposed to salt stress. The catalase activity in plants co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Streptomyces was 55% greater than in plants inoculated with Bradyrhizobium alone, and this value was remarkably greater than that in the other treatments. These results reinforce the beneficial effects of plant growth-promoting bacteria on the antioxidant system that detoxifies reactive oxygen species. We concluded that the combination of Bradyrhizobium and plant growth-promoting bacteria induces positive responses for coping with salt-induced oxidative stress in cowpea nodules, mainly in plants co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and P. graminis or co-inoculated with Bradyrhizobium and Bacillus.

Varieties of lima bean shows different growth responses when inoculated with Bacillus sp. a plant growth-promoting bacteria / Variedades de feijão-fava exibem diferentes respostas de crescimento quando inoculadas com Bacillus sp. uma bactéria promotora de crescimento em plantas

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) comprise of soil microorganisms that cause positive effects on plant growth. The hypothesis according to which the inoculation of lima bean with PGPB Bacillus stimulates vegetative growth, which may result in a higher plant productivity, was tested. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of inoculation of two varieties of lima bean (branca and boca de moça) with Bacillus sp., UFPEDA 472 strain, based on plant growth responses. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse using a completely randomized design. Three treatments were applied separately to each lima bean variety: the first used inoculation with Bacillus, one was submitted to nitrogen supplementation, and one was the absolute control (non-inoculated plants). The following variables were evaluated: absolute and relative growth rate, root length, stem diameter, fresh and dry mass of shoots and roots, shoot:root ratio and total chlorophyll. The results showed that lima bean displayed better growth responses when inoculated with Bacillus sp. UFPEDA 472 in relation to the treatment with nitrogen and/or non-inoculated plants. When inoculated with PGPB Bacillus, the lima bean var. branca was superior to boca de moça in terms of root length and root dry mass. The lima bean var. boca de moça inoculated with Bacillus sp. UFPEDA 472 was superior to branca in terms of absolute growth rate, stem diameter, fresh and dry mass of shoot, shoot:root ratio and total chlorophyll. In general, the lima bean var. boca de moça inoculated with Bacillus shows a better growth performance. Our results suggest that growth responses of lima bean varieties branca and boca de moça are related with a positive interaction with the PGPB Bacillus.

Bactérias promotoras de crescimento em plantas (BPCP) compreendem microrganismos do solo que causam efeitos positivos no crescimento vegetal. A hipótese de que a inoculação de feijão-fava com BPCP Bacillus estimula o crescimento vegetativo, o qual pode resultar em uma maior produtividade vegetal, foi testado. Assim, este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito da inoculação de duas variedades de feijão-fava (branca e boca de moça) com Bacillus sp., estirpe UFPEDA 472, baseado em respostas de crescimento vegetal. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação usando um delineamento completamente ao acaso. Três tratamentos foram aplicados separadamente à cada variedade de feijão-fava: o primeiro utilizou a inoculação com Bacillus sp. UFPEDA 472, um foi submetido à suplementação com nitrogênio e um foi o controle absoluto (plantas não inoculadas). As seguintes variáveis foram avaliadas: taxa de crescimento absoluto e relativo, comprimento das raízes, diâmetro do caule, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea e raízes, relação parte aérea:raiz e clorofila total. Os resultados mostram que o feijão-fava exibiu melhores respostas de crescimento quando inoculadas com Bacillus sp. UFPEDA 472 em relação ao tratamento com nitrogênio e/ou às plantas não inoculadas. Quando inoculado com Bacillus sp. UFPEDA 472, o feijão-fava var. branca foi superior à boca de moça em termos de comprimento e massa seca das raízes. O feijão-fava var. boca de moça inoculado com Bacillus sp. UFPEDA 472 foi superior à branca na taxa de crescimento absoluto, diâmetro do caule, massa fresca e seca da parte aérea, relação

Silenced rice in both cytosolic ascorbate peroxidases displays pre-acclimation to cope with oxidative stress induced by 3-aminotriazole-inhibited catalase.

The maintenance of H2O2 homeostasis and signaling mechanisms in plant subcellular compartments is greatly dependent on cytosolic ascorbate peroxidases (APX1 and APX2) and peroxisomal catalase (CAT) activities. APX1/2 knockdown plants were utilized in this study to clarify the role of increased cytosolic H2O2 levels as a signal to trigger the antioxidant defense system against oxidative stress generated in peroxisomes after 3-aminotriazole-inhibited catalase (CAT). Before supplying 3-AT, silenced APX1/2 plants showed marked changes in their oxidative and antioxidant profiles in comparison to NT plants. After supplying 3-AT, APX1/2 plants triggered up-expression of genes belonging to APX (OsAPX7 and OsAPX8) and GPX families (OsGPX1, OsGPX2, OsGPX3 and OsGPX5), but to a lower extent than in NT plants. In addition, APX1/2 exhibited lower glycolate oxidase (GO) activity, higher CO2 assimilation, higher cellular integrity and higher oxidation of GSH, whereas the H2O2 and lipid peroxidation levels remained unchanged. This evidence indicates that redox pre-acclimation displayed by silenced rice contributed to coping with oxidative stress generated by 3-AT. We suggest that APX1/2 plants were able to trigger alternative oxidative and antioxidant mechanisms involving signaling by H2O2, allowing these plants to display effective physiological responses for protection against oxidative damage generated by 3-AT, compared to non-transformed plants.

Control of gummy stem blight in watermelon through different management systems / Controle da podridão gomosa em melancia através de diferentes sistemas de manejo

Gummy stem blight, caused by Didymella bryoniae (Auersw.) Rehn, is a disease that affects the productivity of watermelon leading to losses exceeding 40%. This study aimed at evaluating the efficiency of different production systems in the control of watermelon gummy stem blight in order to establish effective methods to combat the disease. The following treatments were applied: conventional management, integrated management and organic production. Mineral fertilizer was applied to conventional and integrated management, whereas in organic production was used the cattle manure. There was application of fungicides and insecticides in commercial doses in conventional and integrated management, and the application was according to monitoring in integrated management. No fungicide or insecticide was applied to organic production. The disease severity was assessed by rating scale. The experimental design was randomized blocks. The severity of gummy stem blight increased substantially during fruit formation. Watermelon plants grown with integrated management showed lower levels of disease severity, while plants in organic production exhibited higher severity levels. We conclude that the management based on judicious monitoring in field is the best way to attain appropriate phytosanitary quality for the watermelon crop in Tocantins State, Brazil.

A podridão gomosa (Didymella bryoniae) é uma doença que afeta a produtividade da melancia levando a perdas superiores a 40%. Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência de diferentes sistemas de produção no controle da podridão gomosa em melancia visando estabelecer métodos eficientes de combate à doença. Aplicou-se os seguintes tratamentos: manejo convencional, manejo integrado e cultivo orgânico. A adubação mineral foi aplicada em manejo convencional e no manejo integrado, enquanto que no cultivo orgânico foi utilizado o esterco bovino. Houve aplicação de fungicidas e inseticidas em doses comerciais no manejo convencional e manejo integrado, sendo que no manejo integrado a aplicação foi conforme monitoramento. A severidade da doença foi avaliada por escala de notas. O delineamento experimental foi blocos ao acaso. A severidade da podridão gomosa aumentou substancialmente na fase de formação dos frutos. Plantas de melancia cultivadas com o manejo integrado apresentaram menores níveis de severidade da doença, enquanto as plantas em cultivo orgânico exibiram maiores níveis de severidade. Conclui-se que o manejo baseado em acompanhamentos criteriosos em campo representa a melhor maneira de atingir o aspecto fitossanitário adequado para o cultivo de melancia no Estado do Tocantins, Brasil.

Escala diagramática para avaliação da severidade do crestamento gomoso do caule em melancia / Diagrammatic scale for evaluation of gummy stem blight severity in watermelon

O crestamento gomoso do caule, causado pelo fungo Didymella bryoniae, é uma doença comumente encontrada na melancia cultivada em vários países. No Brasil, são inúmeras as pesquisas relacionadas à doença, porém não há métodos padronizados de quantificação da severidade da doença em campo. Assim, foi desenvolvida uma escala diagramática com base em padrões de fotos digitalizadas de folhas de melancia infectadas com D. bryoniae. A escala desenvolvida apresentou níveis de 0; 10; 20; 45; 65 e 90% de severidade. A validação da escala foi dividida em duas partes: inicialmente, 10 avaliadores (metade com experiência e a outra metade sem experiência) estimaram a severidade da doença com base na observação inicial de 100 fotos de folhas de melancia com sintomas da doença em diferentes níveis de severidade. Em seguida, os mesmo avaliadores estimaram a severidade da doença com o auxílio da escala confeccionada a partir do programa Quant. Os dados foram analisados a partir de regressão linear e obtidos os coeficientes angular, linear e de correlação. A partir dos dados obtidos, determinou-se a acurácia e precisão das avaliações. Os coeficientes de determinação (R2) variaram entre 0,88 - 0,97 para os avaliadores experientes e de 0,55 - 0,95 para os avaliadores inexperientes. O coeficiente angular (A) médio para os avaliadores inexperientes foi de 20,42 e 8,61 sem e com o auxílio da escala diagramática, respectivamente. Os avaliadores experientes apresentaram valores de A médios de 5,30 e 1,68 sem e com o uso da escala diagramática, respectivamente. A análise dos erros absolutos indicou que o uso da escala diagramática contribuiu para minimizar as falhas na estimativa dos níveis de severidade. A escala diagramática proposta mostrou-se adequada para avaliação da severidade do crestamento gomoso do caule em melancia.

The gummy stem blight, caused by the fungus D. bryoniae, is a disease commonly found in watermelon cultivated in several countries. In Brazil, there are numerous studies related to the disease, but there are not uniform methods for quantifying of disease severity in the field. Thus, we developed a diagrammatic scale based on scanned photos of watermelon leaves infected with D. bryoniae. The scale developed showed levels of 0; 10; 20; 45; 65 and 90% of severity. The scale validation was divided into two parts: initially, 10 evaluators (half with experienced and other half without experience) estimated the disease severity based on the initial observation of 100 photos of watermelon leaves with symptoms of the disease at different severity levels. Before, the same evaluators estimated the disease severity with the support of the scale prepared from the Quant program. Data were analyzed using linear regression and were obtained angular, linear, and correlation coefficients. Based on these data, we determined the accuracy and precision of the evaluations. The correlation coefficients (R2) ranged from 0.88 - 0.97 for the experienced evaluators and from 0.55 - 0.95 for the inexperienced evaluators. The average angular coefficient (A) for inexperienced evaluators was 20.42 and 8.61 with and without the support of diagrammatic scale, respectively. Experienced evaluators showed values of average linear coefficient of 5.30 and 1.68 with and without the support of diagrammatic scale, respectively. The absolute errors analysis indicated that the use of diagrammatic scale contributed to minimize the flaws in the severity levels estimation. The diagrammatic scale proposed shown adequate for gummy stem blight severity evaluation in watermelon.

Severidade da antracnose e produtividade de sorgo granífero em resposta a doses crescentes de nitrogênio / Anthracnose severity and yield of grain sorghum in response to increasing nitrogen doses

O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a severidade da antracnose e a produtividade de diferentes genótipos de sorgo em resposta a doses crescentes de nitrogênio. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em duas safras agrícolas: safra 2009/2010 (safra I) e safra 2010/2011 (safra II). O preparo do solo na área experimental foi realizado de forma convencional. Na safra I foram utilizados quatro genótipos de sorgo BRS 310, CMSXS 0144015, CMSXS 9920045 e CMSXS 9920044, enquanto que na safra II apenas os genótipos BRS 310 e CMSXS 0144015 foram avaliados. Aos 45 dias após o plantio (DAP) foram aplicados os tratamentos que consistiram de doses de nitrogênio (67; 112; 157; e 202 kg ha-1) em adubação de cobertura. Aos 60 DAP, iniciou-se a avaliação da severidade da antracnose utilizando escala de notas. Na colheita, determinou-se a produtividade de grãos nos tratamentos. Houve variação nos níveis de severidade da antracnose e na produtividade de grãos dos genótipos de sorgo em função das doses de nitrogênio aplicadas. Os genótipos de sorgo CMSXS 9920045 e BRS 310 apresentaram menor e maior suscetibilidade à antracnose, respectivamente. No genótipo BRS 310, a doença progrediu mais rapidamente na safra I que apresentou maior umidade relativa.

The present study aimed to evaluate the severity of anthracnose and yield of different genotypes of sorghum in response to increasing levels of nitrogen. For this, experiments were conducted in two agricultural seasons: crop season 2009/2010 (crop season I) e crop season 2010/2011 (crop season II). The soil preparation in the experimental area was performed in conventional manner. In the crop season I were used four sorghum genotypes BRS 310, CMSXS 0144015, CMSXS 9920045 e CMSXS 9920044, whereas in the crop season II only the genotypes BRS 310 and CMSXS 0144015 were evaluated. At 45 days after planting (DAP) were applied the treatments which consisted of nitrogen doses (67; 112; 157; and 202 kg ha-1) in topdressing. At 60 DAP, was began the evaluation of anthracnose severity using notes scale. At the harvest it was determined the yield for each treatment based on the mass of grain. There was variation in levels of anthracnose severity and grain yield in the sorghum genotypes in response to nitrogen levels applied. The sorghum genotypes CMSXS 9920045 and BRS 310 showed smaller and higher susceptibility to anthracnose, respectively. In genotype BRS 310, the disease progressed more rapidly in the crop season I that showed major relative humidity.

Cytosolic APX knockdown rice plants sustain photosynthesis by regulation of protein expression related to photochemistry, Calvin cycle and photorespiration.

The biochemical mechanisms underlying the involvement of cytosolic ascorbate peroxidases (cAPXs) in photosynthesis are still unknown. In this study, rice plants doubly silenced in these genes (APX1/2) were exposed to moderate light (ML) and high light (HL) to assess the role of cAPXs in photosynthetic efficiency. APX1/2 mutants that were exposed to ML overexpressed seven and five proteins involved in photochemical activity and photorespiration, respectively. These plants also increased the pheophytin and chlorophyll levels, but the amount of five proteins that are important for Calvin cycle did not change. These responses in mutants were associated with Rubisco carboxylation rate, photosystem II (PSII) activity and potential photosynthesis, which were similar to non-transformed plants. The upregulation of photochemical proteins may be part of a compensatory mechanism for APX1/2 deficiency but apparently the finer-control for photosynthesis efficiency is dependent on Calvin cycle proteins. Conversely, under HL the mutants employed a different strategy, triggering downregulation of proteins related to photochemical activity, Calvin cycle and decreasing the levels of photosynthetic pigments. These changes were associated to strong impairment in PSII activity and Rubisco carboxylation. The upregulation of some photorespiratory proteins was maintained under that stressful condition and this response may have contributed to photoprotection in rice plants deficient in cAPXs. The data reveal that the two cAPXs are not essential for photosynthesis in rice or, alternatively, the deficient plants are able to trigger compensatory mechanisms to photosynthetic acclimation under ML and HL conditions. These mechanisms involve differential regulation in protein expression related to photochemistry, Calvin cycle and photorespiration.

The knockdown of chloroplastic ascorbate peroxidases reveals its regulatory role in the photosynthesis and protection under photo-oxidative stress in rice.

The inactivation of the chloroplast ascorbate peroxidases (chlAPXs) has been thought to limit the efficiency of the water-water cycle and photo-oxidative protection under stress conditions. In this study, we have generated double knockdown rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants in both OsAPX7 (sAPX) and OsAPX8 (tAPX) genes, which encode chloroplastic APXs (chlAPXs). By employing an integrated approach involving gene expression, proteomics, biochemical and physiological analyses of photosynthesis, we have assessed the role of chlAPXs in the regulation of the protection of the photosystem II (PSII) activity and CO2 assimilation in rice plants exposed to high light (HL) and methyl violagen (MV). The chlAPX knockdown plants were affected more severely than the non-transformed (NT) plants in the activity and structure of PSII and CO2 assimilation in the presence of MV. Although MV induced significant increases in pigment content in the knockdown plants, the increases were apparently not sufficient for protection. Treatment with HL also caused generalized damage in PSII in both types of plants. The knockdown and NT plants exhibited differences in photosynthetic parameters related to efficiency of utilization of light and CO2. The knockdown plants overexpressed other antioxidant enzymes in response to the stresses and increased the GPX activity in the chloroplast-enriched fraction. Our data suggest that a partial deficiency of chlAPX expression modulate the PSII activity and integrity, reflecting the overall photosynthesis when rice plants are subjected to acute oxidative stress. However, under normal growth conditions, the knockdown plants exhibit normal phenotype, biochemical and physiological performance.

Role of peroxidases in the compensation of cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase knockdown in rice plants under abiotic stress.

Current studies, particularly in Arabidopsis, have demonstrated that mutants deficient in cytosolic ascorbate peroxidases (APXs) are susceptible to the oxidative damage induced by abiotic stress. In contrast, we demonstrate here that rice mutants double silenced for cytosolic APXs (APx1/2s) up-regulated other peroxidases, making the mutants able to cope with abiotic stress, such as salt, heat, high light and methyl viologen, similar to non-transformed (NT) plants. The APx1/2s mutants exhibited an altered redox homeostasis, as indicated by increased levels of H2O2 and ascorbate and glutathione redox states. Both mutant and NT plants exhibited similar photosynthesis (CO2) assimilation and photochemical efficiency) under both normal and stress conditions. Overall, the antioxidative compensatory mechanism displayed by the mutants was associated with increased expression of OsGpx genes, which resulted in higher glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in the cytosolic and chloroplastic fractions. The transcript levels of OsCatA and OsCatB and the activities of catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD; type III peroxidases) were also up-regulated. None of the six studied isoforms of OsApx were up-regulated under normal growth conditions. Therefore, the deficiency in cytosolic APXs was effectively compensated for by up-regulation of other peroxidases. We propose that signalling mechanisms triggered in rice mutants could be distinct from those proposed for Arabidopsis.