Transcriptomic and physiological shade avoidance responses in potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants.

Plants detect competitors in shaded environments by perceiving a reduction in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and the reduction between the red and far-red light (R:FR) ratio and blue photons. These light signals are detected by phytochromes and cryptochromes, which trigger shade avoidance responses such as shoot and petiole elongation and lead to increased susceptibility to pathogen attack. We studied morphological, anatomical, and photosynthesis differences in potato plants (Solanum tuberosum var.

The dimerization mechanism of the N-terminal domain of spider silk proteins is conserved despite extensive sequence divergence.

The N-terminal (NT) domain of spider silk proteins (spidroins) is crucial for their storage at high concentrations and also regulates silk assembly. NTs from the major ampullate spidroin (MaSp) and the minor ampullate spidroin are monomeric at neutral pH and confer solubility to spidroins, whereas at lower pH, they dimerize to interconnect spidroins in a fiber. This dimerization is known to result from modulation of electrostatic interactions by protonation of well-conserved glutamates, although it is undetermined if this mechanism applies to other spidroin types as well.

BBX21 reduces abscisic acid sensitivity, mesophyll conductance and chloroplast electron transport capacity to increase photosynthesis and water use efficiency in potato plants cultivated under moderated drought.

The B-box (BBX) proteins are zinc-finger transcription factors with a key role in growth and developmental regulatory networks mediated by light. AtBBX21 overexpressing (BBX21-OE) potato (Solanum tuberosum) plants, cultivated in optimal water conditions, have a higher photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance without penalty in water use efficiency (WUE) and with a higher tuber yield. In this work, we cultivated potato plants in two water regimes: 100 and 35% field capacity of water restriction that imposed leaf water potentials between -0.

Optimization of timing of next-generation emergence in Amaranthus hybridus is determined via modulation of seed dormancy by the maternal environment.

The timing of emergence of weed species has critical ecological and agronomical implications. In several species, emergence patterns largely depend on the level of dormancy of the seedbank, which is modulated by specific environmental factors. In addition, environmental conditions during seed maturation on the mother plant can have marked effects on the dormancy level at the time of seed dispersal.

Phytochrome B enhances plant growth, biomass and grain yield in field-grown maize.

Background And Aims: Phytochrome B (phyB) is a photosensory receptor important for the control of plant plasticity and resource partitioning. Whether phyB is required to optimize plant biomass accumulation in agricultural crops exposed to full sunlight is unknown. Here we investigated the impact of mutations in the genes that encode either phyB1 or phyB2 on plant growth and grain yield in field crops of Zea mays sown at contrasting population densities.

Heterologous Expression of Enhances the Rate of Photosynthesis and Alleviates Photoinhibition in .

B-box (BBX) proteins are zinc-finger transcription factors containing one or two B-box motifs. BBX proteins act as key factors in the networks regulating growth and development. The relevance of BBX21 to light and abscisic acid signaling in seedling development is well established; however, its importance in adult plant development and agronomic species is poorly understood.

Glucuronoarabinoxylans as major cell walls polymers from young shoots of the woody bamboo Phyllostachys aurea.

Young shoots of Phyllostachys aurea showed glucuronoarabinoxylans (GAX) as the major hemicellulosic components, being extracted in major amounts with 1M KOH (ratio Xyl:Ara:GlcA, 100:67:8), but also with water, showing a broad structural variability. Mixed linkage glucans were also present, but in minor amounts, mostly concentrated in the 4M KOH extracts, while pectin polymers were very scarce. Arabinogalactan proteins were an important part of water extracts, determined by the presence of the typical arabinogalactan structures (3- and 6-linked Gal p; terminal and 5-linked Ara f), in addition to small amounts of hydroxyproline (2-3% of total protein) and positive reaction to Yariv's reagent.

Soybean fruit development and set at the node level under combined photoperiod and radiation conditions.

In soybean, long days during post-flowering increase seed number. This positive photoperiodic effect on seed number has been previously associated with increments in the amount of radiation accumulated during the crop cycle because long days extend the duration of the crop cycle. However, evidence of intra-nodal processes independent of the availability of assimilates suggests that photoperiodic effects at the node level might also contribute to pod set.

Pollen source effects on growth of kernel structures and embryo chemical compounds in maize.

Background And Aims: Previous studies have reported effects of pollen source on the oil concentration of maize (Zea mays) kernels through modifications to both the embryo/kernel ratio and embryo oil concentration. The present study expands upon previous analyses by addressing pollen source effects on the growth of kernel structures (i.e.

Achene structure, development and lipid accumulation in sunflower cultivars differing in oil content at maturity.

Background And Aims: Sunflower cultivars exhibit a wide range of oil content in the mature achene, but the relationship between this and the dynamics of oil deposition in the achene during grain filling is not known. Information on the progress, during the whole achene growth period, of the formation of oil bodies in the components of the achene and its relationship with variations in final oil content is also lacking.

Methods: The biomass dynamics of achene components (pericarp, embryo, oil) in three cultivars of very different final oil concentration (30-56 % oil) were studied.

Executive management studies: the application of real-time science in health administration education.

While sound scientific research, such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs), has produced findings leading to significant gains in healthcare, real-time science learning gives administrators and providers a way of responding to immediate need and rapid change while improving performance and the quality of care delivered. Real-time science learning is a cycle of team reflection on and exchange of theory and practical knowledge that produces many benefits for the individual, the organization, and the healthcare field. By questioning principles and analyzing information, teams generate recommendations for organizational improvement as well as develop their individual abilities to address other unforeseen demands in differentcontexts.

Guideline attribute and implementation preferences among physicians in multiple health systems.

Objectives: Although practice guidelines are effective in assisting providers with clinical decision making, ineffective implementation strategies often prevent their use in practice. This study aimed to understand physician preferences for guideline format, placement, content, evidence, and learning strategies in different clinical environments.

Subjects And Methods: Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted with 500 randomly selected physicians from 4 major US health systems who were involved in the treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction or pediatric asthma.

Conflicting values and the patient-provider relationship in managed care.

By definition, value in health care is a function of the quality of care received and the costs associated with providing the care. One method used to optimize the value function is managed care. Unfortunately, some mechanisms of managed care have created an environment where the values of primary stakeholders are in conflict with one another.