The manipulation of apoptosis-related genes to generate resistance to Fusarium wilt and water stress in banana

Bananas are susceptible to a diverse range of biotic and abiotic stresses, many of which cause serious production constraints worldwide. One of the most destructive banana diseases is Fusarium wilt caused by the soil-borne fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc). No effective control strategy currently exists for this disease which threatens global banana production. Although disease resistance exists in some wild bananas, attempts to introduce resistance into commercially acceptable bananas by conventional breeding have been hampered by low fertility, long generation times and association of poor agronomical traits with resistance genes. With the advent of reliable banana transformation protocols, molecular breeding is now regarded as a viable alternative strategy to generate disease-resistant banana plants. Recently, a novel strategy involving the expression of anti-apoptosis genes in plants was shown to result in resistance against several necrotrophic fungi. Further, the transgenic plants showed increased resistance to a range of abiotic stresses. In this thesis, the use of anti-apoptosis genes to generate transgenic banana plants with resistance to Fusarium wilt was investigated. Since water stress is an important abiotic constraint to banana production, the resistance of the transgenic plants to water stress was also examined. Embryogenic cell suspensions (ECS) of two commercially important banana cultivars, Grand Naine (GN) and Lady Finger (LF), were transformed using Agrobacterium with the anti-apoptosis genes, Bcl-xL, Bcl-xL G138A, Ced-9 and Bcl- 2 3’ UTR. An interesting, and potentially important, outcome was that the use of anti-apoptosis genes resulted in up to a 50-fold increase in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency of both LF and GN cells over vector controls. Regenerated plants were subjected to a complete molecular characterisation in order to detect the presence of the transgene (PCR), transcript (RT-PCR) and gene product (Western blot) and to determine the gene copy number (Southern blot). A total of 36 independently-transformed GN lines (8 x Bcl-xL, 5 x Bcl-xL G138A, 15 x Ced-9 and 8 x Bcl-2 3’ UTR) and 41 independently-transformed LF lines (8 x Bcl-xL, 7 x BclxL G138A, 13 x Ced-9 and 13 x Bcl-2 3’ UTR) were identified. The 41 transgenic LF lines were multiplied and clones from each line were acclimatised and grown under glasshouse conditions for 8 weeks to allow monitoring for phenotypic abnormalities. Plants derived from 3 x Bcl-xL, 2 x Ced-9 and 5 x Bcl-2 3’ UTR lines displayed a variety of aberrant phenotypes. However, all but one of these abnormalities were off-types commonly observed in tissue-cultured, non-transgenic banana plants and were therefore unlikely to be transgene-related. Prior to determining the resistance of the transgenic plants to Foc race 1, the apoptotic effects of the fungus on both wild-type and Bcl-2 3’ UTR-transgenic LF banana cells were investigated using rapid in vitro root assays. The results from these assays showed that apoptotic-like cell death was elicited in wild-type banana root cells as early as 6 hours post-exposure to fungal spores. In contrast, these effects were attenuated in the root cells of Bcl-2 3’ UTR-transgenic lines that were exposed to fungal spores. Thirty eight of the 41 transgenic LF lines were subsequently assessed for resistance to Foc race 1 in small-plant glasshouse bioassays. To overcome inconsistencies in rating the internal (vascular discolouration) disease symptoms, a MatLab-based computer program was developed to accurately and reliably assess the level of vascular discolouration in banana corms. Of the transgenic LF banana lines challenged with Foc race 1, 2 x Bcl-xL, 3 x Ced-9, 2 x Bcl-2 3’ UTR and 1 x Bcl-xL G138A-transgenic line were found to show significantly less external and internal symptoms than wild-type LF banana plants used as susceptible controls at 12 weeks post-inoculation. Of these lines, Bcl-2 3’ UTR-transgenic line #6 appeared most resistant, displaying very mild symptoms similar to the wild-type Cavendish banana plants that were included as resistant controls. This line remained resistant for up to 23 weeks post-inoculation. Since anti-apoptosis genes have been shown to confer resistance to various abiotic stresses in other crops, the ability of these genes to confer resistance against water stress in banana was also investigated. Clonal plants derived from each of the 38 transgenic LF banana plants were subjected to water stress for a total of 32 days. Several different lines of transgenic plants transformed with either Bcl-xL, Bcl-xL G138A, Ced-9 or Bcl-2 3’ UTR showed a delay in visual water stress symptoms compared with the wild-type control plants. These plants all began producing new growth from the pseudostem following daily rewatering for one month. In an attempt to determine whether the protective effect of anti-apoptosis genes in transgenic banana plants was linked with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated programmed cell death (PCD), the effect of the chloroplast-targeting, ROS-inducing herbicide, Paraquat, on wild-type and transgenic LF was investigated. When leaf discs from wild-type LF banana plants were exposed to 10 ìM Paraquat, complete decolourisation occurred after 48 hours which was confirmed to be associated with cell death and ROS production by trypan blue and 3,3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) staining, respectively. When leaf discs from the transgenic lines were exposed to Paraquat, those derived from some lines showed a delay in decolourisation, suggesting only a weak protective effect from the transgenes. Finally, the protective effect of anti-apoptosis genes against juglone, a ROS-inducing phytotoxin produced by the causal agent of black Sigatoka, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, was investigated. When leaf discs from wild-type LF banana plants were exposed to 25 ppm juglone, complete decolourisation occurred after 48 hours which was again confirmed to be associated with cell death and ROS production by trypan blue and DAB staining, respectively. Further, TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL) assays on these discs suggested that the cell death was apoptotic. When leaf discs from the transgenic lines were exposed to juglone, discs from some lines showed a clear delay in decolourisation, suggesting a protective effect. Whether these plants are resistant to black Sigatoka is unknown and will require future glasshouse and field trials. The work presented in this thesis provides the first report of the use of anti-apoptosis genes as a strategy to confer resistance to Fusarium wilt and water stress in a nongraminaceous monocot, banana. Such a strategy may be exploited to generate resistance to necrotrophic pathogens and abiotic stresses in other economically important crop plants.

羊草叶片光合参数对不同水分变化的响应机理与模拟林祥磊

由温室气体的大量排放引起的全球环境变化不仅导致了温度的升高和降水格局的变化，亦引起了干旱等极端气候事件的频繁发生。研究羊草光合参数对水分胁迫及复水的响应，可以增进全球变化对植物光合作用和陆地生态系统影响的理解，揭示羊草光合参数对水分胁迫及复水的响应机理，为发展植物光合参数对水热变化的响应模型提供参数与依据。基于温室模拟试验和野外观测实验，采用Li-6400R便携式光合作用系统（Li-cor, Lincoln, NE, USA）测定了羊草（Leymus chinensis）叶片A/Ci曲线(净光合速率A和胞间CO2浓度Ci的关系曲线)，获取了羊草叶片的光合参数Vcmax（Rubisco的最大羧化速率）、Jmax（最大光合电子传递速率）和TPU（磷酸丙糖利用率），分析研究了羊草叶片光合参数Vcmax（Rubisco的最大羧化速率）、Jmax（最大光合电子传递速率）和TPU（磷酸丙糖利用率）对干旱与复水的响应机理。结果表明，无论是模拟实验还是野外观测均显示羊草叶片的光合参数随着土壤水分的增加呈抛物线曲线变化，但各光合参数最大值对土壤水分的响应不同。温室模拟下的羊草光合参数Vcmax，Jmax和TPU在土壤含水量分别在15.56%，15.89%和16.23%时达到最大，而野外观测羊草的光合参数Vcmax，Jmax和TPU在土壤含水量分别为16.89%，17%和16.79%时达到最大。复水后羊草植株叶片光合参数的变化取决于前期干旱的影响，土壤含水量18%～19%和15%～16%处理的羊草复水后光合参数能够恢复正常，前者甚至超过正常水平，说明适宜的水分胁迫在复水后能够提高羊草叶片的光合能力，促进光合作用;土壤含水量10%～12%和7%～9%处理下的羊草复水后光合参数则不能恢复到正常水平。土壤含水量15%～16%可能是羊草光合能力在水分胁迫后能否恢复的阈值。

变水处理与短期遮荫对作物水分利用效率的影响

变水处理与短期遮荫对棉花水分利用效率的影响研究表明 ,在充分供水 -水分胁迫 -复水的变水处理过程中 ,短期遮荫使净光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率降低 ;光照 -遮荫 -光照期间 ,总的水分利用效率以水分胁迫的最高 ,充分供水的次之 ,复水处理最低 ,其中遮荫 40 %的水分利用效率高于遮荫 75%的处理 .回归分析表明 ,水分利用效率与光合速率表现出极显著正相关 ,两者回归直线的斜率随水分胁迫而增大 ,而水分利用效率与蒸腾速率的关系较弱 ,多数处理两者相关达不到显著水平

干旱和复水条件下转基因甘薯的光合特性

以转铜锌超氧化物歧化酶(Cu/Zn SOD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)基因甘薯(TS)及未转基因甘薯(NT)为实验材料,研究在旱后复水条件下转基因甘薯及未转基因甘薯抗氧化酶活性和光合特性变化。结果显示,连续36 h胁迫条件下,TS和NT的SOD活性都先降低后升高,但TS的SOD活性始终高于NT。胁迫至24 h时,TS的SOD活性约为NT的1.2倍,复水后二者SOD活性都下降。持续胁迫,TS的APX活性先升高后降低,NT与之相反,复水后TS和NT的APX活性都是先升高后降低,复水12 h,TS的APX活性是NT的1.5倍。水分胁迫条件下TS的膜质受伤害程度要轻于NT,胁迫24 h,复水12 h,NT的MDA含量均约为TS的1.2倍。胁迫12 h,TS和NT净光合速率都下降,继续胁迫,TS净光合速率开始上升,NT几乎保持不变,胁迫36 h,TS的净光合速率约为NT的1.5倍。复水后二者净光合速率都开始上升,复水12 h,TS净光合速率约为NT的3倍。胁迫时TS、NT胞间CO2浓度(Ci)都逐渐增大,胁迫36 h时NT胞间CO2浓度显著高于TS,是其1.4倍。实验结果表明,同时转入SOD、APX抗氧化基因后,在...

土壤水分与短期遮光对棉花光合及其气孔响应的影响

以陆地棉 (Gossypium hirsutum L.Zhongmain No.2 3)为供试材料 ,探讨了在充分供水-水分胁迫 -复水的处理过程中 ,短期不同遮光水平对棉花光合特性及其气孔响应的影响。结果表明 ,在水分处理过程中 ,所有不同遮光水平的棉花叶片对短期遮光具有相似的基本响应规律 :短期遮光使净光合速率迅速降低 ,气孔导度减少 ,但减少速率缓慢 ;遮阳网去掉后 ,叶片气孔重新开放速率和光合恢复被延迟。水分胁迫期间 ,所有遮光处理的水分利用效率均最高 ,但净光合速率均较低 ,光合及其气孔响应受到严重限制 ,遮光 75%受到的影响大于遮光 40 %的处理。复水后水分胁迫带来的残留影响仍然存在 ,结果使水分利用效率在整个水分处理过程中最低 ,遮光 75%的处理尤为明显。上述表明 ,土壤水分与短期遮光对棉花光合及其气孔响应的影响十分显著

Examination of Antioxidative System's Responses in the Different Phases of Drought Stress and During Recovery in Desert Plant Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim

The aim of this study was to test the protective roles of superoxide dismutases (SODs), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) against oxidative damage and their activities in different phases of the dry down process in Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim. leaves. Drought stress was imposed during 100 consecutive days and rewatering after 16, 72, and 100 days. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde, and SODs activities were elevated significantly with progressing drought stress. POD and CAT activities increased markedly in the early phase of drought and decreased significantly with further drought stress continuation, and POD activity was unable to recover after rewatering. Ascorbate, reduced glutathione, APX, and GR activities declined in the initial stages of drought process, elevated significantly with further increasing water deficit progression and recovered after rewatering. These results indicate that: (1) iron SODs-removing superoxide anion is very effective during the whole drought stress; (2) CAT scavenges H2O2 in the early phase of drought and enzymes of ascorbate-glutathione cycle scavenge H2O2 in further increasing drought stress; and (3) POD does not contribute to protect against oxidative damage caused by H2O2 under drought stress.

Strong quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in the desiccated state in three poikilohydric and homoiochlorophyllous moss species indicates photo-oxidative protection on highly light-exposed rocks of a tropical inselberg

The three poikilophydric and homoiochlorophyllous moss species Campylopus savannarum (C. Muell.) Mitt., Racocarpus fontinaloides (C. Muell.) Par. and Ptychomitrium vaginatum Besch. grow on sun-exposed rocks of a tropical inselberg in Brazil subject to regular drying and wetting cycles. Effective photo-oxidative protection in the light-adapted desiccated state in all three species is achieved by a reduction of ground chlorophyll fluorescence, F, to almost zero. Upon rewatering, the kinetics of the recovery of F in air dry cushions to higher values is very fast in the first 5min, but more than 80min are needed until an equilibrium is reached gradually. The kinetics were not different between the three species. The three moss species, have a distinct niche occupation and form a characteristic zonation around soil vegetation islands on the rock outcrops, where C. savannarum and R. fontinaloides form an inner and outer belt, respectively, around vegetation islands and P vaginatum occurs as small isolated cushions on bare rock. However, they were not distinguished by the reduction of F in the dry state and the rewetting recovery kinetics and only slightly different in their photosynthetic capacity. Stable isotope ratios (delta C-13, delta N-15) indicate that liquid films of water limiting diffusion of CO2 are important in determining carbon acquisition and suggest that limitation of CO2 fixation by water films must be more pronounced over time in P vaginatum than in the latter species. This is determined by both the micro site occupied and the form of the moss cushions. (c) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Fotossíntese, condutância estomática e transpiração em pupunheira sob deficiência hídrica

Resultados de pesquisa envolvendo aspectos fisiológicos da pupunheira (Bactris gasipaes Kunth), fruteira nativa da América Tropical, são escassos. Procurando completar essa lacuna, um experimento sob deficiência hídrica foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, durante um período de 13 dias, utilizando plantas de 12 meses de idade. O objetivo principal foi avaliar as respostas da pupunheira à deficiência hídrica. As variáveis observadas foram: taxa de assimilação de CO2, transpiração, condutância estomática e potencial de água das folhas. As coletas dos dados foram realizadas diariamente em laboratório e sob fluxo de 1200 mim-2 s-1. Os resultados foram submetidos à análise de variância e de regressão. Verificou-se decréscimo no potencial de água da folha e nas trocas gasosas quando a irrigação foi interrompida por mais de seis dias. Valores mínimos foram obtidos no décimo dia, com redução de 92% da fotossíntese líquida, 87% da condutância estomática e 70% da transpiração. O menor potencial de água nas folhas (-1,9 MPa) foi também observado nesse período. Houve recuperação total de todas as variáveis dois dias após reirrigação, com exceção da condutância estomática. A diminuição da condutância estomática e a queda mais rápida da taxa de transpiração que a queda na fotossíntese, indicam a existência de mecanismos de aclimatação em pupunheira, no sentido de diminuir as perdas de água, quando sob condição de estresse hídrico moderado.

Mecanismos fisiológicos e bioquímicos da cana-de-açúcar sob estresses induzidos por deficiência hídrica e paraquat

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Agricultura) - FCA

Respostas fisiológicas de cultivares de cana-de-açúcar submetidas à deficiência hídrica e a reidratação

The aim of this work was to study the physiological responses of three contrasting cultivars of sugar cane subject to water stress and rewatering, The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, where the cultivars SP83-2847, SP80-1842 and SP81-3250 were grown in pots. The first assessment was done after 85 days of planting, then two treatments were implemented, i.e. without water stress (-D) and with water stress (+D) by withholding water for 15 days and rewatering imposed for 12 days after the stress period. Cultivars SP81-3250 and SP80-1842 showed a higher decline in the F-v/F-m ratio, leaf relative water content (RWC), leaf water potential (Psi(w)), SPAD index and photosynthetic pigments due to water deficit. Drought caused less damage in the physiology of the variety SP83-2847, and it still showed rapid recovery during rewatering, including for the stomatal conductance (gs), so this variety had better adaptation under this condition. The traits F-v/F-m, Psi(w), RWC, SPAD index and photosynthetic pigments present as potential physiological indicators in order to select tolerant sugar cane cultivars to water deficit. The trait gs is more effective in differentiating the tolerant cultivars during rewatering.

Drought Stress alters Solute Allocation in Broadleaf Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

According to climate models, drier summers must be expected more frequently in Central Europe during the next decades, which may influence plant performance and competition in grassland. The overall source–sink relations in plants, especially allocation of solutes to above- and below-ground parts, may be affected by drought. To investigate solute export from a given leaf of broadleaf dock, a solution containing 57Co and 65Zn was introduced through a leaf flap. The export from this leaf was detected by analysing radionuclide contents in various plant parts. Less label was allocated to new leaves and more to roots under drought. The observed alterations of source–sink relations in broadleaf dock were reversible during a subsequent short period of rewatering. These findings suggest an increased resource allocation to roots under drought improving the functionality of the plants.