Strategies of plants to overcome abiotic and biotic stresses.

In their environment, plants are exposed to a multitude of abiotic and biotic stresses that differ in intensity, duration and severity. As sessile organisms, they cannot escape these stresses, but instead have developed strategies to overcome them or to compensate for the consequences of stress exposure. Defence can take place at different levels and the mechanisms involved are thought to differ in efficiency across these levels.

Antagonistic effect of mercury and excess nitrogen exposure reveals provenance-specific phytoremediation potential of black locust-rhizobia symbiosis.

Interaction of different environmental constrains pose severe threats to plants that cannot be predicted from individual stress exposure. In this context, mercury (Hg), as a typical toxic and hazardous heavy metal, has recently attracted particular attention. Nitrogen (N)-fixing legumes can be used for phytoremediation of Hg accumulation, whereas N availability could greatly affect its N-fixation efficiency.

Diplodia sapinea infection reprograms foliar traits of its pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) host to death.

Infection with the necrotrophic fungus Diplodia sapinea (Fr.) Fuckel is among the economically and ecologically most devastating diseases of conifers in the northern hemisphere and is accelerated by global climate change. This study aims to characterize the changes mediated by D.

EDTA application on agricultural soils affects microelement uptake of plants.

Chelates such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) enter soils via various sources but their effect on agricultural crops is mostly unknown. Sources of EDTA include industry, households, sewage water and agricultural practices. In a field experiment EDTA was applied in its free form at different rates (0, 150, 550, 1050kgha) to study its translocation in the soil profile and to evaluate its effect on yield and mineral composition of the cultivated crop, both in the year of application (oilseed rape) and in the following year (winter wheat).

Sulphur flux through the sulphate assimilation pathway is differently controlled by adenosine 5'-phosphosulphate reductase under stress and in transgenic poplar plants overexpressing gamma-ECS, SO, or APR.

Sulphate assimilation provides reduced sulphur for the synthesis of cysteine, methionine, and numerous other essential metabolites and secondary compounds. The key step in the pathway is the reduction of activated sulphate, adenosine 5'-phosphosulphate (APS), to sulphite catalysed by APS reductase (APR). In the present study, [(35)S]sulphur flux from external sulphate into glutathione (GSH) and proteins was analysed to check whether APR controls the flux through the sulphate assimilation pathway in poplar roots under some stress conditions and in transgenic poplars.

[Multicenter reticulohistiocytosis--histologic photoreport].

Histomorphologic features of multicentric reticulohistiocytosis are rarely seen in three predominant areas of one patient. Characteristic are infiltrates of eosinophilic histiocytes and multinuclear giant cells with opalescent appearance, fine vacuoles, and PAS-positive granules. In all three lesions, the histologic findings were identical.

[Bowenoid papulosis of the genito-anal region].

Bowenoid papulosis is a new and rather frequent entity affecting young men and women. Clinically, the lesions consists of multiple red or brown papules in the genitoanal region. Histologically, the papules shows alterations of the epidermis similar to those in Bowen's disease.

[Rare manifestation of Lever-type bullous pemphigoid in the larynx].

A bullous pemphigoid type Lever had so far been unknown in the larynx. Clinical, histological and immunofluorescence-histological symptoms of such a case are presented. Diagnosis and therapy of bullous dermatoses require close cooperation between otorhinolaryngological and dermatological specialists.

[Bowenoid papulosis of the genito-anal region].

The recently described bowenoid papulosis of the genitoanal region is to regard as a new entity. Clinically the multiple lesions in the genitoanal region consist of red or brown papules. Histologically the lesions show dysplasia like the Bowen's disease.

[Apocrine mixed tumor].

We report on an apocrine mixed tumor. There are two essential elements that are characteristic of well-circumscribed, benign tumor: 1. Nests of epithelial cells, 2.

[Histological case report: localized cutaneous calcinosis (author's transl)].

The localized calcinosis of the skin is an extremely rare affection, which clinically appears as a verrucous nodule. The most common locations are the face and the extremities. Histologically the calcified material is located in the subepidermal upper dermis.

Problems of differential diagnosis of blastomyces and Russell bodies.

The European dermato-histologist is only rarely confronted with the diagnosis of granulomatous and systemic mycosis. The proper identification in sections and smears of blastomycetes of systemic importance is rather problematic, as Russell bodies may simulate fungi in certain stains. An own observation is reported with particular emphasis on differential diagnosis.

[Pemphigus herpetiformis].

Pemphigus herpetiformis is a separate form of pemphigus with its own features. Clinically it resembles dermatitis herpetiformis Duhring. Periodically there is an extraordinary violent itching.

[Disseminated granuloma annulare].

Disseminated granuloma anulare is a very rare form of this disease. Usually, the skin is involved on light-exposed areas. Most of the lesions are papules.

[Conjunctivitis lignosa -- an autoimmunity disease (author's transl)].

In a 33-year-old patient discrete conjunctivitides occured over a period of 3 years. Grey-white, fibrinous, spongy conjunctival swellings and white areas of cartilage-like consistency occured in relation with these. Microscopically these lesions showed parakeratotic cornified stratified epithelium, leukoplakias, chronic inflammation, round cell infiltrates, and vessel sprouts.

[Differential diagnosis of ophthalmological findings in various forms of ichthyosis].

The ophthalmological manifestations in the various types of ichthyosis are very different. Regarding genetic criteria, history, clinical and histological observations, four different keratopathies characteristics for one of each type of ichthyosis, were found.

[Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and lentiginosis (author's transl)].

Progressive cardiomyopathic lentiginosis was first described in 1972 by Polani and Moynahan. It is characterised by pigmentation of the skin (multiple symmetrical lentigines), hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and retarded growth. There may also be mental retardation.

[Elastic globes].

After a short compilation of the descriptions of the elastic globes offered in the literature, the results of 446 tissue specimens of five different dermatoses (lichen planus, erythematodes chronicus discoides, tuberculosis cutis luposa, basal cell carcinoma, and nervus cell nevi). An increased appearance of elastic globes was found in erythematodes chronicus discoides and tuberculosis cutis luposa, compared with the other dermatoses. Elastic globes were not limited to special areas of the body, but there were topographical preferences.

[Influence of Palomo's varicocele operation on the spermiogram].

The anatomical condition and the pathomechanism of varicoceles are outlined. The results of the controls of 100 patients being operated by the technique according to Palomo are evaluated. A definite improvement is pointed out in the different parameters of the spermiogram.

[Corneal lesions in ichthyosis].

Corneal lesions in ichthyosis, here combined with alopecia, are rarely described in the literature. The present observation relates to two sisters, whose grandparents were siblings. The mode of inheritance is autosomal recessive, as is usual in ichthyosis congenita but is also observed in ichthyosis vulgaris.

[Corneal lesions in ichthyosis (author's transl)].

The authors report about observations they made in two sisters. One sister showed a fibroid degeneration of the cornea, the other a band-shaped keratopathy respectively, together with an ichthyosis and an alopecia as a result of capillary fractures due to pili torti. An autosomal recessive hereditary transmission could be determined.

Tyrosinase activity in three types of the malignant melanoma: superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma and nodular melanoma.

Quantitative differences in the tyrosinase activity are found at the three types of malignant melanoma of Clark and Mihm by the combined 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine-premelanin-reaction. Only a very small activity is present in the junction nevus. In the superficial spreading melanoma the tyrosinase activity is clear, but limited.