Differential strategies of two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the protection of maize plants grown in chromium-contaminated soils.

Chromium (Cr) is a nonessential element for plants that is extremely toxic at high concentrations. Zea mays L. is a species of plant that has developed adaptive mechanisms to increase its tolerance and absorption capacity for this metal.

YUCCA4 overexpression modulates auxin biosynthesis and transport and influences plant growth and development via crosstalk with abscisic acid in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Auxin regulates a plethora of events during plant growth and development, acting in concert with other phytohormones. YUCCA genes encode flavin monooxygenases that function in tryptophan-dependent auxin biosynthesis. To understand the contribution of the YUCCA4 (YUC4) gene on auxin homeostasis, plant growth and interaction with abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, 35S::YUC4 seedlings were generated, which showed elongated hypocotyls with hyponastic leaves and changes in root system architecture that correlate with enhanced auxin responsive gene expression.

Antibacterial and cytotoxicity activities and phytochemical analysis of three ornamental plants grown in Mexico.

This study evaluates the antibacterial, cytotoxic activities, and phytochemical composition, of Callistemon citrinus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Plumbago auriculata leaves and flowers, three ornamental plants in Mexico. However, in other countries offers a range of other uses. Ethanol extracts of C.

Expression analysis of the Arabidopsis thaliana AtSpen2 gene, and its relationship with other plant genes encoding Spen proteins.

Proteins of the Split ends (Spen) family are characterized by an N-terminal domain, with one or more RNA recognition motifs and a SPOC domain. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the Spen protein FPA is involved in the control of flowering time as a component of an autonomous pathway independent of photoperiod. The A.

Arabidopsis thaliana sucrose phosphate synthase (sps) genes are expressed differentially in organs and tissues, and their transcription is regulated by osmotic stress.

Sucrose is synthesized from UDP-Glc and Fru-6-phosphate via the activity of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) enzymes, which produce Suc-6-phosphate. Suc-6-phosphate is rapidly dephosphorylated by phosphatases to produce Suc and inorganic phosphate. Arabidopsis has four sps genes encoding SPS enzymes.

Effect of mineral nutrients on the uptake of Cr(VI) by maize plants.

To determine the potential of maize plants for phytoextraction of chromium (Cr), and the effect that some mineral nutrients have on this process, the uptake of this metal was analyzed in vitro. 12-day-old plants were incubated in nutrient solutions with 200 or 250 μM potassium chromate and 3mM supplements of nitrate, phosphate or sulfate. The greatest accumulation of Cr after 48 hours was in plants that were supplemented with nitrate (800 and 350 mg kg(-1) DW for roots and stems, respectively) with bioaccumulation factors of 18 and 7 in the roots and in the foliage, respectively.

Chromate induces adventitious root formation via auxin signalling and SOLITARY-ROOT/IAA14 gene function in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Morphological root plasticity optimizes nutrient and water uptake by plants and is a promising target to improve tolerance to metal toxicity. Exposure to sublethal chromate [Cr(VI)] concentrations inhibits root growth, decreases photosynthesis and compromises plant development and productivity. Despite the increasing environmental problem that Cr(VI) represents, to date, the Cr tolerance mechanisms of plants are not well understood, and it remains to be investigated whether root architecture remodelling is important for plant adaptation to Cr(VI) stress.

Phosphate relieves chromium toxicity in Arabidopsis thaliana plants by interfering with chromate uptake.

Soil contamination by hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI) or chromate] due to anthropogenic activities has become an increasingly important environmental problem. Mineral nutrients such as phosphate (Pi), sulfate and nitrate have been reported to attenuate Cr(VI) toxicity, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. Here, we show that chromate activates the expression of low-Pi inducible reporter genes AtPT1 and AtPT2 in Arabidopsis thaliana transgenic seedlings.