Discovery and Characterization of Four Aphelenchid Species from Cultivated Regions of Southern Alberta, Canada.

The nematode family Aphelenchoididiae is considered fungal-feeding, predatory, or root hair feeders. Some members of this family are universally present in agricultural landscapes and are an integral part of soil health and conservation studies. In the present soil nematode biodiversity survey, we detected four species of the genera , , and .

Morpho-Anatomy, In Vitro Culture, and Phylogenetic Studies of Two Species from Southern Alberta, Canada.

Spiral nematodes ( spp.) are polyphagous parasitic species exhibiting a broad host range and geographical distribution. However, their diversity in the cultivated regions of southern Alberta remains understudied.

Relationship between Desiccation Tolerance and Biofilm Formation in Shiga Toxin-Producing .

Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) is a major concern in the food industry and requires effective control measures to prevent foodborne illnesses. Previous studies have demonstrated increased difficulty in the control of biofilm-forming STEC. Desiccation, achieved through osmotic stress and water removal, has emerged as a potential antimicrobial hurdle.

New Records of Species from Southern Alberta, Canada.

The presence of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) in cultivated areas is a limiting factor in achieving marketable crop yield. To control and alleviate the effects of these nematodes and determine appropriate management strategies, species-level identification is crucial. Therefore, we conducted a nematode diversity survey, which resulted in the detection of four species in cultivated areas of southern Alberta, Canada.

Overexpression of Douglas-Fir () in Induces Embryonic Programs and Embryo-like Structures in the Mutant but Not in Wild Type Plants.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is the most promising method for the quick propagation of desirable plant genotypes. However, application of SE to conifers remains challenging due to our limited knowledge about the genes involved in embryogenesis and the processes that lead to somatic embryo formation. Douglas-fir, an economically important lumber species, possesses a homolog of the angiosperm embryo-regulatory gene.

Douglas-fir () is an active transcription factor during zygotic and somatic embryogenesis.

Douglas-fir () is one of the world's premier lumber species and somatic embryogenesis (SE) is the most promising method for rapid propagation of superior tree genotypes. The development and optimization of SE protocols in conifers is hindered by a lack of knowledge of the molecular basis of embryogenesis and limited sequence data. In Arabidopsis, the () gene is a master regulator of embryogenesis that induces SE when expressed ectopically.

Overview of the Genus and First Reports of and from Southern Alberta, Canada.

The present study provides the morphological and molecular characterization of and populations, recovered from agricultural fields of southern Alberta. Despite a significant abundance of this group of nematodes, none of the species were previously reported in Canada. Therefore, representative adult specimens of each population were photographed and examined morphometrically.

Integrative taxonomy, distribution, and host associations of and from southern Alberta, Canada.

Two stunt nematode species, and , were recovered from the potato growing regions of southern Alberta, described and characterized based on integrative taxonomy. Morphometrics, distribution, and host associations of both species are discussed. The Canadian populations of both species displayed minor variations in morphometrical characteristics (viz.

Species Diversity of Pin Nematodes ( spp.) from Potato Growing Regions of Southern Alberta, Canada.

Pin nematodes ( spp.) are polyphagous parasitic species with a wide host range and geographical distribution; their diversity is unknown in the potato growing region of Alberta, Canada. The present study aims to provide morphological and molecular characterization of three pin nematode species, namely , , and a new species, sp.

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation enhances the antioxidant potential of Artemisia tilesii Ledeb.

Plants belonging to the genus Artemisia L. have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. These aromatic plants produce and accumulate a wide range of potent secondary metabolites, many of which have shown antioxidant, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even anticancer activities.

Simple sequence repeat analysis of new potato varieties developed in Alberta, Canada.

The worldwide demand for potato production requires the constant development of new potato varieties with improved yield, quality, disease resistance, and abiotic tolerance. However, cultivar registration is preceded by a long process to morphologically and physiologically characterize the plants. Notably, this process can be expedited by DNA marker analysis.

Enhancing disease resistance in poplar through modification of its natural defense pathway.

Modification of the poplar defense pathway through pathogen-induced expression of an amphibian host defense peptide modulates plant innate immunity and confers robust and reliable resistance against a major poplar pathogen, Septoria musiva. Host defense peptides (HDPs), also known as cationic antimicrobial peptides, represent a diverse group of small membrane-active molecules that are part of the innate defense system of their hosts against pathogen invasion. Here we describe a strategy for development of poplar plants with enhanced HDP production and resistance to the commercially significant fungal pathogen Septoria musiva.

Correction to: Spatiotemporal activities of Douglas-fir BiP Pro1 promoter in transgenic potato.

In Table 1, the unit of measure provided for GUS activity in unstressed leaves was not given correctly in the original publication. It should read.

Spatiotemporal activities of Douglas-fir BiP Pro1 promoter in transgenic potato.

The PmBiPPro1 promoter of the luminal binding protein (BiP) from Douglas-fir is fully functional in transgenic potato, responsive to wounding, and has high transcriptional activity in tubers. A predefined pattern and level of transgene expression targeted to specific tissues or organs and at a particular developmental stage is a pre-requisite for the successful development of plants with desired traits. Here, we evaluated the transcriptional activity of the PmBiPPro1 promoter of the luminal binding protein (BiP) from Douglas-fir, by expressing reporter β-D-glucuronidase (GUS) gene constructs containing three different PmBiPPro1 promoter versions (2258 bp, 1259 bp, and 278 bp) in transgenic potato.

Efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of commercial hybrid poplar Populus nigra L. x P. maximowiczii A. Henry.

Many economically important species of Populus, especially those in sections Aigeiros and Tacamahaca, remain recalcitrant to genetic transformation. In this study, a simple and reliable protocol was developed for the efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of a difficult-to-transform, but commercially viable, hybrid poplar Populus nigra L. x P.

Comparison of pathogen-induced expression and efficacy of two amphibian antimicrobial peptides, MsrA2 and temporin A, for engineering wide-spectrum disease resistance in tobacco.

The rapid accumulation of defensive transgene products in plants only on pathogen invasion has clear advantages over their constitutive synthesis. In this study, two antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretions of frogs, MsrA2 (N-methionine-dermaseptin B1) and temporin A, were evaluated for engineering pathogen-induced disease resistance in plants. Both peptides inhibited plant-specific pathogens in vitro at micromolar concentrations that were not toxic to plant protoplasts.

Pathogen-induced expression of a cecropin A-melittin antimicrobial peptide gene confers antifungal resistance in transgenic tobacco.

Expression of defensive genes from a promoter that is specifically activated in response to pathogen invasion is highly desirable for engineering disease-resistant plants. A plant transformation vector was constructed with transcriptional fusion between the pathogen-responsive win3.12T promoter from poplar and the gene encoding the novel cecropin A-melittin hybrid peptide (CEMA) with strong antimicrobial activity.

Functional analysis of a Douglas-fir metallothionein-like gene promoter: transient assays in zygotic and somatic embryos and stable transformation in transgenic tobacco.

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb] Franco) metallothionein (PmMT) cDNA encodes a novel cysteine- and serine-rich MT, indicating a new subtype or prototype MT from which other plant MTs may have evolved. A genomic library of Douglas-fir was screened using MT cDNA probes, and genomic sequences that mediate tissue-specific, temporal as well as inducible expression of the embryo-specific MT-gene were analyzed. The promoter region of the PmMT genomic clone (gPmMT) contained a hexameric G-box, two putative ethylene-responsive elements and an inverted repeat of a motif similar to the core metal regulatory element.

2S storage protein gene of Douglas-fir: characterization and activity of promoter in transgenic tobacco seeds.

To date a few sequences regulating expression of conifer seed-specific genes have been reported. To characterize Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb] Franco) 2S albumin storage protein genes, a genomic DNA sequence containing upstream promoter sequences was isolated by screening a Douglas-fir genomic library. Sequence analysis of the Douglas-fir gPm2S1 promoter revealed the presence of RY-repeated elements (GCATGC), and multiple E-box motifs (CANNTG) and ACGT-core elements, features characteristic of 2S storage protein genes in angiosperms.

Calcium/calmodulin activation of two divergent glutamate decarboxylases from tobacco.

Glutamate decarboxylase (GAD, EC 4.1.1.