Low phosphorus induces differential metabolic responses in eucalyptus species improving nutrient use efficiency.

Phosphorus (P) is a vital nutrient for plant growth. P availability is generally low in soils, and plant responses to low P availability need to be better understood. In a previous study, we studied the growth and physiological responses of 24 species to low P availability in the soil and verified of eucalypts, five (, , , , and ) contrasted regarding their efficiency and responsiveness to soil P availability.

Mitochondrial and peroxisomal NAD uptake are important for improved photosynthesis and seed yield under elevated CO concentrations.

As sessile organisms, plants must adapt their physiology and developmental processes to cope with challenging environmental circumstances, such as the ongoing elevation in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO ) levels. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD ) is a cornerstone of plant metabolism and plays an essential role in redox homeostasis. Given that plants impaired in NAD metabolism and transport often display growth defects, low seed production and disturbed stomatal development/movement, we hypothesized that subcellular NAD distribution could be a candidate for plants to exploit the effects of CO fertilization.

High Photosynthetic Rates in a Chromosome 2 QTL Is Explained by Biochemical and Photochemical Changes.

Enhanced photosynthesis is strictly associated with to productivity and it can be accomplished by genetic approaches through identification of genetic variation. By using a introgression lines (ILs) population, it was previously verified that, under normal (CO), IL 2-5 and 2-6 display increased photosynthetic rates by up to 20% in comparison with their parental background (M82). However, the physiological mechanisms involved in the enhanced CO assimilation exhibited by these lines remained unknown, precluding their use for further biotechnological applications.

Identification and characterization of metabolite quantitative trait loci in tomato leaves and comparison with those reported for fruits and seeds.

Introduction: To date, most studies of natural variation and metabolite quantitative trait loci (mQTL) in tomato have focused on fruit metabolism, leaving aside the identification of genomic regions involved in the regulation of leaf metabolism.

Objective: This study was conducted to identify leaf mQTL in tomato and to assess the association of leaf metabolites and physiological traits with the metabolite levels from other tissues.

Methods: The analysis of components of leaf metabolism was performed by phenotypying 76 tomato ILs with chromosome segments of the wild species Solanum pennellii in the genetic background of a cultivated tomato (S.

Metabolic diversity in tuber tissues of native Chiloé potatoes and commercial cultivars of Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum L.

Introduction: The native potatoes (Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum L.) cultivated on Chiloé Island in southern Chile have great variability in terms of tuber shape, size, color and flavor.

The Mitochondrial Thioredoxin System Contributes to the Metabolic Responses Under Drought Episodes in Arabidopsis.

Thioredoxins (Trxs) modulate metabolic responses during stress conditions; however, the mechanisms governing the responses of plants subjected to multiple drought events and the role of Trxs under these conditions are not well understood. Here we explored the significance of the mitochondrial Trx system in Arabidopsis following exposure to single and repeated drought events. We analyzed the previously characterized NADPH-dependent Trx reductase A and B double mutant (ntra ntrb) and two independent mitochondrial thioredoxin o1 (trxo1) mutant lines.

Eucalypt plants are physiologically and metabolically affected by infection with Ceratocystis fimbriata.

Ceratocystis wilt, caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata, is currently one of the most important disease in eucalypt plantations. Plants infected by C. fimbriata have lower volumetric growth, lower pulp yields and reduced timber values.

The genetic architecture of photosynthesis and plant growth-related traits in tomato.

To identify genomic regions involved in the regulation of fundamental physiological processes such as photosynthesis and respiration, a population of Solanum pennellii introgression lines was analyzed. We determined phenotypes for physiological, metabolic, and growth related traits, including gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Data analysis allowed the identification of 208 physiological and metabolic quantitative trait loci with 33 of these being associated to smaller intervals of the genomic regions, termed BINs.

Exploiting Natural Variation to Discover Candidate Genes Involved in Photosynthesis-Related Traits.

Naturally occurring genetic variation in plants can be very useful to dissect the complex regulation of primary metabolism as well as of physiological traits such as photosynthesis and photorespiration. The physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying natural variation in closely related species or accessions may provide important information that can be used to improve crop yield. In this chapter we describe in detail the use of a population of introgression lines (ILs), with the Solanum pennellii IL population as a study case, as a tool for the identification of genomic regions involved in the control of photosynthetic efficiency.

Different levels of UV-B resistance in Vaccinium corymbosum cultivars reveal distinct backgrounds of phenylpropanoid metabolites.

UV-B radiation induces several physiological and biochemical effects that can influence regulatory plant processes. Vaccinium corymbosum responds differently to UV-B radiation depending on the UV-B resistance of cultivars, according to their physiological and biochemical features. In this work, the effect of two levels of UV-B radiation during long-term exposure on the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and the expression of genes associated with flavonoid biosynthesis as well as the absolute quantification of secondary metabolites were studied in two contrasting UV-B-resistant cultivars (Legacy, resistant and Bluegold, sensitive).

Natural genetic variation for morphological and molecular determinants of plant growth and yield.

The rates of increase in yield of the main commercial crops have been steadily falling in many areas worldwide. This generates concerns because there is a growing demand for plant biomass due to the increasing population. Plant yield should thus be improved in the context of climate change and decreasing natural resources.