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Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... Nov 2018Functional traits are increasingly used to understand the ecology of plants and to predict their responses to global changes. Unfortunately, trait data are unavailable... (Review)
Review
Functional traits are increasingly used to understand the ecology of plants and to predict their responses to global changes. Unfortunately, trait data are unavailable for the majority of plant species. The lack of trait data is especially prevalent for hard-to-measure traits and for tropical plant species, potentially owing to the many inherent difficulties of working with species in remote, hyperdiverse rainforest systems. The living collections of botanic gardens provide convenient access to large numbers of tropical plant species and can potentially be used to quickly augment trait databases and advance our understanding of species' responses to climate change. In this review, we quantitatively assess the availability of trait data for tropical versus temperate species, the diversity of species available for sampling in several exemplar tropical botanic gardens and the validity of garden-based leaf and root trait measurements. Our analyses support the contention that the living collections of botanic gardens are a valuable scientific resource that can contribute significantly to research on plant functional ecology and conservation.This article is part of the theme issue 'Biological collections for understanding biodiversity in the Anthropocene'.
Topics: Biodiversity; Conservation of Natural Resources; Life History Traits; Plant Leaves; Plant Physiological Phenomena; Plant Roots; Plants; Tropical Climate
PubMed: 30455208
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0390 -
International Journal of Molecular... Sep 2022Salinity is a natural and anthropogenic process that plants overcome using various responses. Salinity imposes a two-phase effect, simplified into the initial osmotic... (Review)
Review
Salinity is a natural and anthropogenic process that plants overcome using various responses. Salinity imposes a two-phase effect, simplified into the initial osmotic challenges and subsequent salinity-specific ion toxicities from continual exposure to sodium and chloride ions. Plant responses to salinity encompass a complex gene network involving osmotic balance, ion transport, antioxidant response, and hormone signaling pathways typically mediated by transcription factors. One particular transcription factor mega family, , is a principal regulator of salinity responses. Here, we categorize a collection of known salinity-responding and summarize their molecular pathways. collectively play a part in regulating osmotic balance, ion transport response, antioxidant response, and hormone signaling pathways in plants. Particular attention is given to the hormone signaling pathway to illuminate the relationship between and abscisic acid signaling. Observed trends among are highlighted, including group II as major regulators of the salinity response. We recommend renaming existing and adopting a naming system to a standardized format based on protein structure.
Topics: Abscisic Acid; Antioxidants; Chlorides; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Hormones; Plant Proteins; Plants; Plants, Genetically Modified; Salinity; Salt Tolerance; Sodium; Stress, Physiological; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 36142857
DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810947 -
American Journal of Botany Sep 2013Bacterial root endophytes reside in a vast number of plant species as part of their root microbiome, with some being shown to positively influence plant growth.... (Review)
Review
Bacterial root endophytes reside in a vast number of plant species as part of their root microbiome, with some being shown to positively influence plant growth. Endophyte community structure (species diversity: richness and relative abundances) within the plant is dynamic and is influenced by abiotic and biotic factors such as soil conditions, biogeography, plant species, microbe-microbe interactions and plant-microbe interactions, both at local and larger scales. Plant-growth-promoting bacterial endophytes (PGPBEs) have been identified, but the predictive success at positively influencing plant growth in field conditions has been limited. Concurrent to the development of modern molecular techniques, the goal of predicting an organism's ability to promote plant growth can perhaps be realized by more thorough examination of endophyte community dynamics. This paper reviews the drivers of endophyte community structure relating to plant growth promotion, the mechanisms of plant growth promotion, and the current and future use of molecular techniques to study these communities.
Topics: Endophytes; Microbiota; Plant Development; Plant Roots; Plants; Rhizosphere; Soil Microbiology; Symbiosis
PubMed: 23935113
DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1200572 -
The New Phytologist Apr 2017Grafting has been widely used to improve horticultural traits. It has also served increasingly as a tool to investigate the long-distance transport of molecules that is... (Review)
Review
Grafting has been widely used to improve horticultural traits. It has also served increasingly as a tool to investigate the long-distance transport of molecules that is an essential part for key biological processes. Many studies have revealed the molecular mechanisms of graft-induced phenotypic variation in anatomy, morphology and production. Here, we review the phenomena and their underlying mechanisms by which macromolecules, including RNA, protein, and even DNA, are transported between scions and rootstocks via vascular tissues. We further propose a conceptual framework that characterizes and quantifies the driving mechanisms of scion-rootstock interactions toward vascular reconnection and regeneration.
Topics: Epigenesis, Genetic; Models, Biological; Phenotype; Plant Vascular Bundle; Plants; RNA, Plant
PubMed: 27991666
DOI: 10.1111/nph.14383 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2021Cyanogenic glycosides are an important and widespread class of plant natural products, which are however structurally less diverse than many other classes of natural... (Review)
Review
Cyanogenic glycosides are an important and widespread class of plant natural products, which are however structurally less diverse than many other classes of natural products. So far, 112 naturally occurring cyanogenic glycosides have been described in the phytochemical literature. Currently, these unique compounds have been reported from more than 2500 plant species. Natural cyanogenic glycosides show variations regarding both the aglycone and the sugar part of the molecules. The predominant sugar moiety is glucose but many substitution patterns of this glucose moiety exist in nature. Regarding the aglycone moiety, four different basic classes can be distinguished, aliphatic, cyclic, aromatic, and heterocyclic aglycones. Our overview covers all cyanogenic glycosides isolated from plants and includes 33 compounds with a non-cyclic aglycone, 20 cyclopentane derivatives, 55 natural products with an aromatic aglycone, and four dihydropyridone derivatives. In the following sections, we will provide an overview about the chemical diversity known so far and mention the first source from which the respective compounds had been isolated. This review will serve as a first reference for researchers trying to find new cyanogenic glycosides and highlights some gaps in the knowledge about the exact structures of already described compounds.
Topics: Biological Products; Glycosides; Hydrogen Cyanide; Plants
PubMed: 33573160
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030719 -
Phytopathology May 2023Plants produce a high diversity of secondary metabolites that are involved in a wide range of different functions, including stress tolerance, signaling molecules for... (Review)
Review
Plants produce a high diversity of secondary metabolites that are involved in a wide range of different functions, including stress tolerance, signaling molecules for interactions with other species (allelopathy), and protecting plants against herbivores and pathogens. With the rise of more accessible, high-throughput mass spectrometry and new analytical tools, it becomes feasible to identify and validate new secondary metabolites involved in pathogen resistance or assign new roles to previously detected compounds. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the major pathogen defense-associated classes of secondary metabolites, with a focus on those with direct anti-pathogen function. For each class, we highlight one or more typical examples representing the class to give a comprehensive summary of some of the work done to date. In the second part of this review, we highlight how new technological advances and high-throughput experiments in combination with other sources of -omics data, such as genomics and transcriptomics, can accelerate the studies on secondary metabolites and help to link these compounds to genotypes. Employing such approaches will improve our understanding of chemical defenses against plant pathogens and allow for rapid development of markers for resistance breeding.
Topics: Plant Diseases; Plant Breeding; Metabolomics; Plants; Genomics
PubMed: 36856491
DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-11-22-0415-FI -
Genetics May 2011The United States and the world face serious societal challenges in the areas of food, environment, energy, and health. Historically, advances in plant genetics have... (Review)
Review
The United States and the world face serious societal challenges in the areas of food, environment, energy, and health. Historically, advances in plant genetics have provided new knowledge and technologies needed to address these challenges. Plant genetics remains a key component of global food security, peace, and prosperity for the foreseeable future. Millions of lives depend upon the extent to which crop genetic improvement can keep pace with the growing global population, changing climate, and shrinking environmental resources. While there is still much to be learned about the biology of plant-environment interactions, the fundamental technologies of plant genetic improvement, including crop genetic engineering, are in place, and are expected to play crucial roles in meeting the chronic demands of global food security. However, genetically improved seed is only part of the solution. Such seed must be integrated into ecologically based farming systems and evaluated in light of their environmental, economic, and social impacts-the three pillars of sustainable agriculture. In this review, I describe some lessons learned, over the last decade, of how genetically engineered crops have been integrated into agricultural practices around the world and discuss their current and future contribution to sustainable agricultural systems.
Topics: Agriculture; Conservation of Natural Resources; Food Supply; Internationality; Plants; Plants, Genetically Modified
PubMed: 21546547
DOI: 10.1534/genetics.111.128553 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2022Environmental metal pollution is a common problem threatening sustainable and safe crop production. Heavy metals (HMs) cause toxicity by targeting key molecules and life... (Review)
Review
Environmental metal pollution is a common problem threatening sustainable and safe crop production. Heavy metals (HMs) cause toxicity by targeting key molecules and life processes in plant cells. Plants counteract excess metals in the environment by enhancing defense responses, such as metal chelation, isolation to vacuoles, regulating metal intake through transporters, and strengthening antioxidant mechanisms. In recent years, microRNAs (miRNAs), as a small non-coding RNA, have become the central regulator of a variety of abiotic stresses, including HMs. With the introduction of the latest technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS), more and more miRNAs have been widely recognized in several plants due to their diverse roles. Metal-regulated miRNAs and their target genes are part of a complex regulatory network. Known miRNAs coordinate plant responses to metal stress through antioxidant functions, root growth, hormone signals, transcription factors (TF), and metal transporters. This article reviews the research progress of miRNAs in the stress response of plants to the accumulation of HMs, such as Cu, Cd, Hg, Cr, and Al, and the toxicity of heavy metal ions.
Topics: Antioxidants; Metals, Heavy; MicroRNAs; Plants; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 35955772
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158642 -
GM Crops & Food Dec 2023Innovation in agriculture has been essential in improving productivity of crops and forages to support a growing population, improving living standards while... (Review)
Review
Innovation in agriculture has been essential in improving productivity of crops and forages to support a growing population, improving living standards while contributing toward maintaining environment integrity, human health, and wellbeing through provision of more nutritious, varied, and abundant food sources. A crucial part of that innovation has involved a range of techniques for both expanding and exploiting the genetic potential of plants. However, some techniques used for generating new variation for plant breeders to exploit are deemed higher risk than others despite end products of both processes at times being for all intents and purposes identical for the benefits they provide. As a result, public concerns often triggered by poor communication from innovators, resulting in mistrust and suspicion has, in turn, caused the development of a range of regulatory systems. The logic and motivations for modes of regulation used are reviewed and how the benefits from use of these technologies can be delivered more efficiently and effectively is discussed.
Topics: Humans; Plants, Genetically Modified; Gene Editing; Crops, Agricultural; Agriculture; Technology; Food, Genetically Modified
PubMed: 37690075
DOI: 10.1080/21645698.2023.2252947 -
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. RNA Nov 2020The molecular machinery for protein synthesis is profoundly similar between plants and other eukaryotes. Mechanisms of translational gene regulation are embedded into... (Review)
Review
The molecular machinery for protein synthesis is profoundly similar between plants and other eukaryotes. Mechanisms of translational gene regulation are embedded into the broader network of RNA-level processes including RNA quality control and RNA turnover. However, over eons of their separate history, plants acquired new components, dropped others, and generally evolved an alternate way of making the parts list of protein synthesis work. Research over the past 5 years has unveiled how plants utilize translational control to defend themselves against viruses, regulate translation in response to metabolites, and reversibly adjust translation to a wide variety of environmental parameters. Moreover, during seed and pollen development plants make use of RNA granules and other translational controls to underpin developmental transitions between quiescent and metabolically active stages. The economics of resource allocation over the daily light-dark cycle also include controls over cellular protein synthesis. Important new insights into translational control on cytosolic ribosomes continue to emerge from studies of translational control mechanisms in viruses. Finally, sketches of coherent signaling pathways that connect external stimuli with a translational response are emerging, anchored in part around TOR and GCN2 kinase signaling networks. These again reveal some mechanisms that are familiar and others that are different from other eukaryotes, motivating deeper studies on translational control in plants. This article is categorized under: Translation > Translation Regulation RNA Structure and Dynamics > Influence of RNA Structure in Biological Systems RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications.
Topics: Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plants; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; RNA
PubMed: 32367681
DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1597