Publications by authors named "Jose R Magalhaes"

Drought stress is one of the most intensively studied and widespread constraints, and nitric oxide (NO) is a key signaling molecule involved in the mediation of abiotic stresses in plants. We demonstrated that a sprayed solution of NO from donor sodium nitroprusside increased drought stress tolerance responses in both sensitive (Phaseolus vulgaris) and tolerant (Vigna unguiculata) beans. In intact plants subjected to halting irrigation, NO increased the leaf relative water content and stomatal conductance in both species.

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Genotypic, developmental, and environmental factors converge to determine the degree of Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) expression. To characterize the signaling events controlling CAM expression in young pineapple (Ananas comosus) plants, this photosynthetic pathway was modulated through manipulations in water availability. Rapid, intense, and completely reversible up-regulation in CAM expression was triggered by water deficit, as indicated by the rise in nocturnal malate accumulation and in the expression and activity of important CAM enzymes.

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The origin of nitric oxide (*NO) in plants is unclear and an *NO synthase (NOS)-like enzyme and nitrate reductase (NR) are claimed as potential sources. Here we used wild-type and NR-defective double mutant plants to investigate *NO production in Arabidopsis thaliana in response to Pseudomonas syringae pv maculicola. NOS activity increased substantially in leaves inoculated with P.

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