Characterization of Arabidopsis thaliana FLAVONOL SYNTHASE 1 (FLS1) -overexpression plants in response to abiotic stress

Published Date
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
June 2016, Vol.103:133–142, doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.03.010
Research article

• Author 

• Nguyen Hoai Nguyen ^a,b,1
• Jun Hyeok Kim ^a,1
• Jaeyoung Kwon ^a
• Chan Young Jeong ^a,b
• Wonje Lee ^a
• Dongho Lee ^a
• Suk-Whan Hong ^c
• Hojoung Lee ^a,b,,

• aDepartment of Biosystems and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Anam-dong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea
• bInstitute of Life Science and Natural Resources, Korea University, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea
• cDepartment of Molecular Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Bioenergy Research Center, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea

Received 17 November 2015. Revised 7 March 2016. Accepted 7 March 2016. Available online 9 March 2016. 

Highlights

• •
  FLAVONOL SYNTHASE 1 (FLS1) expression was not induced by abscisic acid in Arabidopsis.
• •
  Overexpression of FLS1 altered seed coat color to light brown.
• •
  FLS1-OX and wild-type plants showed similar responses to stress conditions.

Abstract

Flavonoids are an important group of secondary metabolites that are involved in plant growth and contribute to human health. Many studies have focused on the biosynthesis pathway, biochemical characters, and biological functions of flavonoids. In this report, we showed that overexpression of FLS1 (FLS1-OX) not only altered seed coat color (resulting in a light brown color), but also affected flavonoid accumulation. Whereas fls1-3 mutants accumulated higher anthocyanin levels, FLS1-OX seedlings had lower levels than those of the wild-type. Besides, shoot tissues of FLS1-OX plants exhibited lower flavonol levels than those of the wild-type. However, growth performance and abiotic stress tolerance of FLS1-OX, fls1-3, and wild-type plants were not significantly different. Taken together, FLS1 can be manipulated (i.e., silenced or overexpressed) to redirect the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway toward anthocyanin production without negative effects on plant growth and development.

Keywords

Abscisic acid (ABA)

Abiotic stress

Anthocyanin

Flavonol

FLS1

Arabidopsis thaliana

Abbreviations used

ABA, Abscisic acid

DAB, 3,3′-Diaminobenzidine

DPBA, Diphenylboric acid 2-aminoethylester

DPPH, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

GFP, Green fluorescent protein

GUS, β-glucuronidase

MS, Murashige and Skoog

ROS, Reactive oxygen species

RT-PCR, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction

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• PPTX (1.9M)

• ∗ 
  Corresponding author. Department of Biosystems and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Anam-dong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-713, Republic of Korea.

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Biometric anatomy of seedlings developed onboard of Foton-M2 in an automatic system supporting growth

Published Date
Acta Astronautica
April–May 2008, Vol.62(8):505–513, doi:10.1016/j.actaastro.2008.01.019

• Author 

• Veronica De Micco ^,
• Giovanna Aronne

• Laboratory of Botany and Reproductive Ecology, Department of Fruitculture, Botany and Plant Pathology, University of Naples Federico II, via Università, 100-80055 Portici, Naples, Italy

Received 22 December 2006. Revised 4 March 2007. Accepted 15 January 2008. Available online 6 March 2008. 

Abstract

During the evolution of higher plants on Earth, changes in numerous environmental factors occurred, but gravity has been a steady and unchanging force. The alteration of gravitational stimulus can cause modification of plant growth in various aspects that need to be investigated before the establishment of self-sustaining human colonies in Space, supported by bio-regenerative systems. This paper reports the results of an experiment conducted onboard of Foton-M2 satellite where soy seedlings grew during a 5-days period. The experiment was aimed to investigate the effect of microgravity on seed germination, seedling development, morphology and anatomy. The environmental conditions, other than gravity, of the ground control were repeated as identical as possible to those experienced on orbit. Seedlings developed in Space were compared with those grown in   on the basis of numerous anatomical and cytological parameters, such as size and shape of cells and intercellular spaces, amount and distribution of starch and phenolics in different organs and tissues. The observations made through light and fluorescence microscopy, together with the quantification of structural features, by means of digital image analysis, allowed to evidence that the various organs and tissues of soy seedlings show different degrees of alteration after the development in microgravity.

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• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author. Tel.: +39 081 2539443; fax: +39 081 7755114.

Copyright © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Effect of wood ash application on the morphological, physiological and biochemical parameters of Brassica napus L.

Published Date
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
October 2015, Vol.95:15–25, doi:10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.06.017
Research article

• Author 

• Farhat Nabeela ^a
• Waheed Murad ^a
• Imran Khan ^b
• Ishaq Ahmad Mian ^c
• Hazir Rehman ^d
• Muhammad Adnan ^a
• Azizullah Azizullah ^a,,

• aDepartment of Botany, Kohat University of Sciences and Technology (KUST), 26000 Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
• bCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences (CIRBS), International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
• cDepartment of Soil & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
• dDepartment of Microbiology, Kohat University of Sciences and Technology (KUST), 26000 Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Received 18 March 2015. Revised 26 June 2015. Accepted 27 June 2015. Available online 2 July 2015. 

Highlights

• •
  The effect of wood ash application on different parameters of Brassica napus L. was studied.
• •
  Different physiological and biochemical parameters of seedlings were used as end points.
• •
  In addition, the effect on soil microflora & accumulation of metals in seedlings was studied.
• •
  Lower concentrations of wood ash were stimulatory but higher doses were detrimental.
• •
  Wood ash application caused an increased bioaccumulation of metals in seedlings.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of wood ash application on different parameters of Brassica napus L. including seed germination, seedling growth, fresh and dry biomass, water content in seedlings, photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugars, total protein and cell viability. In addition, the effect of wood ash on soil microflora and accumulation of trace elements in seedlings were determined. The seeds of B. napus were grown at different doses of wood ash (0, 1, 10, 25, 50 and 100 g (wood ash)/kg (soil)) and the effect on various parameters was determined. Wood ash significantly inhibited seed germination at doses above 25 g/kg and there was no germination at 100 g/kg of wood ash. At lower concentrations of wood ash, most of the growth parameters of seedlings were stimulated, but at higher concentrations of wood ash most of the studied parameters were adversely affected. Wood ash was found to be very detrimental to B. napus when applied above 25 g/kg. Wood ash application resulted in an increased bioaccumulation of trace elements in seedlings of B. napus. Almost all trace elements were significantly higher in seedlings grown in wood ash above 10 g/kg as compared to the control. An increase in total microbial count was observed with wood ash treatment which was statistically significant at 1 and 10 g/kg of wood ash. It is concluded that at very high concentration, wood ash can be detrimental to plants; however, its application at lower application rate can be recommended.

Keywords

Brassica napus

Wood ash

Seedling growth

Biomass

Bioaccumulation

Soil microflora

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 Table 3

Table 3.

• ∗ 
  Corresponding author.

Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

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Biphasic response to elevated levels of NaCl in Nicotiana occidentalis subspecies obliqua Burbidge

Published Date
Plant Science
July 2003, Vol.165(1):159–165, doi:10.1016/S0168-9452(03)00154-7

• Author 

• Toshiyuki Komori ^,
• Shigehiro Yamada
• Patricia N. Myers
• Hidemasa Imaseki

• Plant Breeding and Genetics Research Laboratory, Japan Tobacco Inc., 700 Higashibara, Toyoda, Iwata, Shizuoka 438-0802, Japan

Received 14 November 2002. Revised 18 March 2003. Accepted 19 March 2003. Available online 30 April 2003. 

Abstract

The seedling growth response of N. occidentalis subspecies obliqua Burbidge to elevated levels of NaCl was studied under various conditions with respect to light/dark cycle and temperature. When cultured at 28 °C under continuous light, the seedlings showed a unique biphasic response to NaCl; the seedlings died in the presence of 75 mM NaCl, while they survived in the presence of 150 mM NaCl. The results of Na⁺ and K⁺ accumulation in leaves suggested that this biphasic response was not due to the disruption of ion homeostasis under 75 mM NaCl. A similar phenomenon was observed when NaCl was replaced with KCl. Moreover, seedlings survived in the coexistence of 75 mM KCl or KNO₃ even under 75 mM NaCl. These results implied that the seedling response may be determined by the differential expression of salt-inducible gene(s) rather than specific ion toxicity. The biphasic response may be useful for understanding the salt tolerance mechanisms and for isolating the involved gene(s).

Keywords

Biphasic response

Nicotiana occidentalis

Salinity stress

Salt tolerance

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• * 
  Corresponding author. Tel.: +81-538-32-8592; fax: +81-538-33-6046. Present address: Plant Innovation Center, Japan Tobacco Inc., 700 Higashibara, Toyoda, Iwata, Shizuoka, 438-0802, Japan

Copyright © 2003 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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