Haplotypes of ATP-Binding Cassette in Chickpea from Kazakhstan Are Associated with Salinity Tolerance and Leaf Necrosis via Oxidative Stress.

Salinity tolerance was studied in chickpea accessions from a germplasm collection and in cultivars from Kazakhstan. After NaCl treatment, significant differences were found between genotypes, which could be arranged into three groups. Those that performed poorest were found in group 1, comprising five ICC accessions with the lowest chlorophyll content, the highest leaf necrosis (LN), Na accumulation, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and a low glutathione ratio GSH/GSSG.

Zinc finger knuckle genes are associated with tolerance to drought and dehydration in chickpea ( L.).

Chickpea ( L.) is a very important food legume and needs improved drought tolerance for higher seed production in dry environments. The aim of this study was to determine diversity and genetic polymorphism in zinc finger knuckle genes with domains and their functional analysis for practical improvement of chickpea breeding.

Altering the balance between AOX1A and NDB2 expression affects a common set of transcripts in Arabidopsis.

Stress-responsive components of the mitochondrial alternative electron transport pathway have the capacity to improve tolerance of plants to abiotic stress, particularly the alternative oxidase AOX1A but also external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases such as NDB2, in Arabidopsis. NDB2 and AOX1A can cooperate to entirely circumvent the classical electron transport chain in Arabidopsis mitochondria. Overexpression of AOX1A or NDB2 alone can have slightly negative impacts on plant growth under optimal conditions, while simultaneous overexpression of NDB2 and AOX1A can reverse these phenotypic effects.

Height to first pod: A review of genetic and breeding approaches to improve combine harvesting in legume crops.

Height from soil at the base of plant to the first pod (HFP) is an important trait for mechanical harvesting of legume crops. To minimise the loss of pods, the HFP must be higher than that of the blades of most combine harvesters. Here, we review the genetic control, morphology, and variability of HFP in legumes and attempt to unravel the diverse terminology for this trait in the literature.

Modified "Allele-Specific qPCR" Method for SNP Genotyping Based on FRET.

The proposed method is a modified and improved version of the existing "Allele-specific q-PCR" (ASQ) method for genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). This method is similar to frequently used techniques like Amplifluor and Kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP), as well as others employing common universal probes (UPs) for SNP analyses. In the proposed ASQ method, the fluorophores and quencher are located in separate complementary oligonucleotides.

Expression of Specific Alleles of Zinc-Finger Transcription Factors, and , and Corresponding SNP Markers, Are Associated with Drought Tolerance in Barley Populations.

Two genes, and , encoding Zinc-finger proteins, were identified earlier as active in barley plants. Based on bioinformatics and sequencing analysis, six SNPs were found in the promoter regions of and one in , among parents of two barley segregating populations, Granal × Baisheshek and Natali × Auksiniai-2. ASQ and Amplifluor markers were developed for and , one SNP in each gene, and in each of two populations, showing simple Mendelian segregation.

Biosynthesis and Cellular Functions of Tartaric Acid in Grapevines.

Tartaric acid (TA) is an obscure end point to the catabolism of ascorbic acid (Asc). Here, it is proposed as a "specialized primary metabolite", originating from carbohydrate metabolism but with restricted distribution within the plant kingdom and lack of known function in primary metabolic pathways. Grapes fall into the list of high TA-accumulators, with biosynthesis occurring in both leaf and berry.

and , Partner Genes of a Transcription Repressor, Coordinate Plant Development and Drought Tolerance in Spelt and Bread Wheat.

Down-regulator associated protein, DrAp1, acts as a negative cofactor (NC2α) in a transcription repressor complex together with another subunit, down-regulator Dr1 (NC2β). In binding to promotors and regulating the initiation of transcription of various genes, plays a key role in plant transition to flowering and ultimately in seed production. and genes were identified, and their expression and genetic polymorphism were studied using bioinformatics, qPCR analyses, a 40K Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray, and Amplifluor-like SNP genotyping in cultivars of bread wheat ( L.

Salt-induced expression of intracellular vesicle trafficking genes, CaRab-GTP, and their association with Na accumulation in leaves of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.).

Background: Chickpea is an important legume and is moderately tolerant to salinity stress during the growing season. However, the level and mechanisms for salinity tolerance can vary among accessions and cultivars. A large family of CaRab-GTP genes, previously identified in chickpea, is homologous to intracellular vesicle trafficking superfamily genes that play essential roles in response to salinity stress in plants.

Identification, gene expression and genetic polymorphism of zinc finger A20/AN1 stress-associated genes, HvSAP, in salt stressed barley from Kazakhstan.

Background: A family of genes designated as the Zinc finger A20/AN1 Transcription factors encoding stress-associated proteins (SAP) are well described in Arabidopsis and rice, and include 14 AtSAP and 18 OsSAP genes that are associated with variable tolerances to multiple abiotic stresses. The SAP gene family displays a great diversity in its structure and across different plant species. The aim of this study was to identify all HvSAP genes in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.

Identification of Alternative Mitochondrial Electron Transport Pathway Components in Chickpea Indicates a Differential Response to Salinity Stress between Cultivars.

All plants contain an alternative electron transport pathway (AP) in their mitochondria, consisting of the alternative oxidase (AOX) and type 2 NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (ND) families, that are thought to play a role in controlling oxidative stress responses at the cellular level. These alternative electron transport components have been extensively studied in plants like Arabidopsis and stress inducible isoforms identified, but we know very little about them in the important crop plant chickpea. Here we identify AP components in chickpea () and explore their response to stress at the transcript level.

AtNDB2 Is the Main External NADH Dehydrogenase in Mitochondria and Is Important for Tolerance to Environmental Stress.

In addition to the classical electron transport pathway coupled to ATP synthesis, plant mitochondria have an alternative pathway that involves type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases (NDs) and alternative oxidase (AOX). This alternative pathway participates in thermogenesis in select organs of some species and is thought to help prevent cellular damage during exposure to environmental stress. Here, we investigated the function and role of one alternative path component, AtNDB2, using a transgenic approach in Arabidopsis ().

Energy costs of salt tolerance in crop plants.

Agriculture is expanding into regions that are affected by salinity. This review considers the energetic costs of salinity tolerance in crop plants and provides a framework for a quantitative assessment of costs. Different sources of energy, and modifications of root system architecture that would maximize water vs ion uptake are addressed.

Alternative Respiratory Pathway Component Genes (AOX and ND) in Rice and Barley and Their Response to Stress.

Plants have a non-energy conserving bypass of the classical mitochondrial cytochrome c pathway, known as the alternative respiratory pathway (AP). This involves type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases (NDs) on both sides of the mitochondrial inner membrane, ubiquinone, and the alternative oxidase (AOX). The AP components have been widely characterised from Arabidopsis, but little is known for monocot species.

Genomic structure and expression of alternative oxidase genes in legumes.

Mitochondria isolated from chickpea (Cicer arietinum) possess substantial alternative oxidase (AOX) activity, even in non-stressed plants, and one or two AOX protein bands were detected immunologically, depending on the organ. Four different AOX isoforms were identified in the chickpea genome: CaAOX1 and CaAOX2A, B and D. CaAOX2A was the most highly expressed form and was strongly expressed in photosynthetic tissues, whereas CaAOX2D was found in all organs examined.

Analysis of Type II NAD(P)H Dehydrogenases.

Plant mitochondria contain at least four type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases that link NAD(P)H oxidation to the inner membrane electron transport chain and bypass proton pumping at Complex I, hence ATP synthesis. These activities have been found in mitochondria isolated from all plant species analyzed to date. In this chapter, methods are presented to analyze the expression of genes encoding these dehydrogenases and to detect protein levels in mitochondria isolated from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).

A methyltransferase essential for the methoxypyrazine-derived flavour of wine.

Methoxypyrazines are a family of potent volatile compounds of diverse biological significance. They are used by insects and plants in chemical defence, are present in many vegetables and fruit and, in particular, impart herbaceous/green/vegetal sensory attributes to wines of certain varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon. While pathways for methoxypyrazine biosynthesis have been postulated, none of the steps have been confirmed genetically.

The role of light in the regulation of ascorbate metabolism during berry development in the cultivated grapevine Vitis vinifera L.

Background: The accumulation of L-ascorbate (Asc) in fruits is influenced by environmental factors including light quantity. Fruit exposure to ambient light is often reduced by the surrounding leaf canopy, and can be altered by cultivation practices. The influence of reduced sunlight exposure on the accumulation of Asc and its catabolites was investigated in field-grown berries of the cultivated grapevine Vitis vinifera L.

Organization and regulation of mitochondrial respiration in plants.

Mitochondrial respiration in plants provides energy for biosynthesis, and its balance with photosynthesis determines the rate of plant biomass accumulation. We describe recent advances in our understanding of the mitochondrial respiratory machinery of cells, including the presence of a classical oxidative phosphorylation system linked to the cytosol by transporters, discussed alongside nonphosphorylating (and, therefore, non-energy conserving) bypasses that alter the efficiency of ATP synthesis and play a role in oxidative stress responses in plants. We consider respiratory regulation in the context of the contrasting roles mitochondria play in different tissues, from photosynthetic leaves to nutrient-acquiring roots.

Two O-methyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of methoxypyrazines: grape-derived aroma compounds important to wine flavour.

Methoxypyrazines (MPs) are volatile, grape-derived aroma compounds that contribute to the distinct herbaceous characters of some wines. Although the full pathway leading to MP production has not been elucidated, there is strong evidence that the final step involves the methylation of non-volatile hydroxypyrazine (HP) precursors. Two cDNA encoding O-methyltransferases (OMTs) that have homology to an enzyme previously purified and shown to catalyse the methylation of HPs were isolated from Cabernet Sauvignon.

Ascorbate metabolism and the developmental demand for tartaric and oxalic acids in ripening grape berries.

Background: Fresh fruits are well accepted as a good source of the dietary antioxidant ascorbic acid (Asc, Vitamin C). However, fruits such as grapes do not accumulate exceptionally high quantities of Asc. Grapes, unlike most other cultivated fruits do however use Asc as a precursor for the synthesis of both oxalic (OA) and tartaric acids (TA).

Manipulation of alternative oxidase can influence salt tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The growth and development of plants can be limited by environmental stresses such as salinity. It has been suggested that the non-phosphorylating alternative respiratory pathway in plants, mediated by the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [NAD(P)H DH] and alternative oxidase (AOX), is important during environmental stresses. The involvement of this alternative pathway in a stress response may be linked to its capacity to uncouple carbon metabolism from adenylate control and/or the minimization of the formation of destructive reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Regulation of malate metabolism in grape berry and other developing fruits.

Organic acids are present in all plants, supporting numerous and varied facets of cellular metabolism. The type of organic acid found, and the levels to which they accumulate are extremely variable between species, developmental stages and tissue types. Acidity plays important roles in the organoleptic properties of plant tissues, where examples of both enhanced and reduced palatability can be ascribed to the presence of specific organic acids.

Characterization of mitochondrial alternative NAD(P)H dehydrogenases in Arabidopsis: intraorganelle location and expression.

The intramitochondrial location of putative type II NAD(P)H dehydrogenases (NDs) in Arabidopsis was investigated by measuring the ability of isolated mitochondria to take up precursor proteins generated from cDNAs using an in vitro translation system. The mature proteins of NDA1, NDA2 and NDC1 were judged to be located on the inside of the inner membrane because they were protected from protease added after the mitochondrial outer membrane had been ruptured. In contrast, NDB1, NDB2 and NDB4 were not protected from protease digestion in mitochondria with ruptured outer membranes and were deemed to be located on the outside of the inner membrane.