Protective roles of salicylic acid in maintaining integrity and functions of photosynthetic photosystems for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) tolerance to aluminum toxicity.

Aluminum (Al) can be detrimental to plant growth in areas with Al contamination. The objective of this study was to determine whether salicylic acid (SA) can improve plant tolerance to Al stress by mitigating Al toxicity for chloroplasts and photosynthetic systems in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).

The existence of C4-bundle-sheath-like photosynthesis in the mid-vein of C3 rice.

Background: Recent studies have shown that C4-like photosynthetic pathways partly reside in photosynthetic cells surrounding the vascular system of C3 dicots. However, it is still unclear whether this is the case in C3 monocots, especially at the molecular level.

Results: In order to fill this gap, we investigated several characteristics required for C4 photosynthesis, including C4 pathway enzymes, cyclic/non-cyclic photophosphorylation rates, the levels and assembly state of photosynthetic machineries, in the mid-veins of C3 monocots rice with leaf laminae used as controls.