Comparison between tumors in plants and human beings: Mechanisms of tumor development and therapy with secondary plant metabolites.

Background: Human tumors are still a major threat to human health and plant tumors negatively affect agricultural yields. Both areas of research are developing largely independent of each other. Treatment of both plant and human tumors remains unsatisfactory and novel therapy options are urgently needed.

Persistence of root-colonizing Pseudomonas protegens in herbivorous insects throughout different developmental stages and dispersal to new host plants.

The discovery of insecticidal activity in root-colonizing pseudomonads, best-known for their plant-beneficial effects, raised fundamental questions about the ecological relevance of insects as alternative hosts for these bacteria. Since soil bacteria are limited in their inherent abilities of dispersal, insects as vectors might be welcome vehicles to overcome large distances. Here, we report on the transmission of the root-colonizing, plant-beneficial and insecticidal bacterium Pseudomonas protegens CHA0 from root to root by the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum.

Distinctive phytotoxic effects of Cd and Ni on membrane functionality.

Metal ions essential for plant growth, such as Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu or Zn, are taken up by plants from the soil solution through metal transporters at the plasma membrane, mainly of the ZIP and Nramp families. These transport systems, however, can also give entry to other metals (Al, Cd, Hg, Pb). Non-nutritive elements, as well as the essential nutrients at higher than metabolic concentrations, can cause phytotoxicity.

Ni2+ toxicity in rice: effect on membrane functionality and plant water content.

The heavy metal nickel is an essential mineral trace nutrient found at low concentrations in most natural soils. However, it may reach toxic levels in certain areas and affect a number of biochemical and physiological processes in plants. Wilting and leaf necrosis have been described as typical visible symptoms of Ni(2+) toxicity.

Role of auxin in regulating Arabidopsis flower development.

To elucidate the role of auxin in flower morphogenesis, its distribution patterns were studied during flower development in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Expression of DR5::GUS was regarded to reflect sites of free auxin, while immunolocalization with auxin polyclonal antibodies visualized conjugated auxin distribution.

Root-synthesized cytokinin in Arabidopsis is distributed in the shoot by the transpiration stream.

To clarify how root-synthesized cytokinins (CKs) are transported to young shoot organs, CK distribution patterns were analysed in free-CK-responsive ARR5::GUS transformants of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. together with free plus bound CKs using specific CK monoclonal antibodies.

Role of cytokinin in the regulation of root gravitropism.

The models explaining root gravitropism propose that the growth response of plants to gravity is regulated by asymmetric distribution of auxin (indole-3-acetic acid, IAA). Since cytokinin has a negative regulatory role in root growth, we suspected that it might function as an inhibitor of tropic root elongation during gravity response. Therefore, we examined the free-bioactive-cytokinin-dependent ARR5::GUS expression pattern in root tips of transformants of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.

Lateral ABA transport in maize roots (Zea mays): visualization by immunolocalization.

The intensity of an ABA (abscisic acid) signal as a root-to-shoot signal, as well as its action on root hydraulic conductivity, strongly depends on the distribution of ABA during its radial transport across roots. Therefore ABA was visualized by immunolocalization with monoclonal ABA antibodies under conditions of lateral water flow induced by the application of a pressure gradient to the cut surface of the mesocotyl of maize seedlings. From the labelling of rhizodermis, hypodermis, cortical cells, and endodermis of roots of hydroponically (no exodermis) and aeroponically (with exodermis) grown seedlings it is concluded that the exodermis acts as a barrier to apoplastic transport that controls ABA uptake and efflux, but that the endodermis can easily be overcome via an apoplastic bypass.

Vascularization, high-volume solution flow, and localized roles for enzymes of sucrose metabolism during tumorigenesis by Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Vascular differentiation and epidermal disruption are associated with establishment of tumors induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Here, we address the relationship of these processes to the redirection of nutrient-bearing water flow and carbohydrate delivery for tumor growth within the castor bean (Ricinus communis) host. Treatment with aminoethoxyvinyl-glycine showed that vascular differentiation and epidermal disruption were central to ethylene-dependent tumor establishment.

Flavonoid-related regulation of auxin accumulation in Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced plant tumors.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced plant tumors accumulate considerable concentrations of free auxin. To determine possible mechanisms by which high auxin concentrations are maintained, we examined the pattern of auxin and flavonoid distribution in plant tumors. Tumors were induced in transformants of Trifolium repens (L.

Gradual shifts in sites of free-auxin production during leaf-primordium development and their role in vascular differentiation and leaf morphogenesis in Arabidopsis.

The major regulatory shoot signal is auxin, whose synthesis in young leaves has been a mystery. To test the leaf-venation hypothesis [R. Aloni (2001) J Plant Growth Regul 20: 22-34], the patterns of free-auxin production, movement and accumulation in developing leaf primordia of DR5::GUS-transformed Arabidopsis thaliana (L.

Development of Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58-induced plant tumors and impact on host shoots are controlled by a cascade of jasmonic acid, auxin, cytokinin, ethylene and abscisic acid.

The development of Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced plant tumors primarily depends on the excessive production of auxin and cytokinin by enzymes encoded on T-DNA genes integrated into the plant genome. The aim of the present study was to investigate the involvement of additional phytohormone signals in the vascularization required for rapid tumor proliferation. In stem tumors of Ricinus communis L.

Evidence for high activity of xylem parenchyma and ray cells in the interface of host stem and Agrobacterium tumefaciens-induced tumours of Ricinus communis.

Rapidly developing tumours at hypocotyls of Ricinus communis, induced by Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58, were characterized by strong differentiation of vascular bundles and their functional connection to the host bundles. The stem/tumour interface showed increased xylem, with numerous vessels accompanied by multiseriate unlignified rays. To know how nutrients efficiently accumulate in the tumour sink tissue, cell electropotentials (E(m)) in cross-sections were mapped.