ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4468-6820
Current Organisations
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
,
University of Western Australia
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Plant Developmental and Reproductive Biology | Oenology and Viticulture | Nutrition And Dietetics | Plant Biology | Horticultural Production | Nutrition and Dietetics | Crop and pasture production | Preventive Medicine | Animal reproduction and breeding | Horticultural crop improvement (incl. selection and breeding) | Crop and pasture improvement (incl. selection and breeding) | Cardiology (Incl. Cardiovascular Diseases) | Genetics | Post Harvest Technologies | Oenology And Viticulture | Plant Growth And Development | Agricultural Biotechnology | Plant Cell and Molecular Biology | Plant Physiology | Gene Expression | Horticultural Crop Growth and Development | Genetically Modified Horticulture Plants
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Wine Grapes | Table Grapes | Grapes | Fresh fruit and vegetables (post harvest) | Nutrition | Horticultural crops | Pome fruit | Expanding Knowledge in the Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences | Preventive medicine |
Related Links
Publications
Molecular genetic features of polyploidization and aneuploidization reveal unique patterns for genome duplication in diploid Malus
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 10-01-2012
Flavonoid-rich apples and nitrate-rich spinach augment nitric oxide status and improve endothelial function in healthy men and women: A randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.FREERADBIOMED.2011.09.028
Abstract: Flavonoids and nitrates in fruits and vegetables may protect against cardiovascular disease. Dietary flavonoids and nitrates can augment nitric oxide status via distinct pathways, which may improve endothelial function and lower blood pressure. Recent studies suggest that the combination of flavonoids and nitrates can enhance nitric oxide production in the stomach. Their combined effect in the circulation is unclear. Here, our objective was to investigate the independent and additive effects of flavonoid-rich apples and nitrate-rich spinach on nitric oxide status, endothelial function, and blood pressure. A randomized, controlled, crossover trial with healthy men and women (n=30) was conducted. The acute effects of four energy-matched treatments (control, apple, spinach, and apple+spinach), administered in random order, were compared. Measurements included plasma nitric oxide status, assessed by measuring S-nitrosothiols+other nitrosylated species (RXNO) and nitrite, blood pressure, and endothelial function, measured as flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery. Results are means and 95% CI. Relative to control, all treatments resulted in higher RXNO (control, 33 nmol/L, 26, 42 apple, 51 nmol/L, 40, 65 spinach, 86 nmol/L, 68, 110 apple+spinach, 69 nmol/L, 54, 88 P<0.01) and higher nitrite (control, 35 nmol/L, 27, 46 apple, 69 nmol/L, 53, 90 spinach, 99 nmol/L, 76, 129 apple+spinach, 80 nmol/L, 61, 104 P<0.01). Compared to control, all treatments resulted in higher flow-mediated dilatation (P<0.05) and lower pulse pressure (P<0.05), and apple and spinach resulted in lower systolic blood pressure (P<0.05). No significant effect was observed on diastolic blood pressure. The combination of apple and spinach did not result in additive effects on nitric oxide status, endothelial function, or blood pressure. In conclusion, flavonoid-rich apples and nitrate-rich spinach can independently augment nitric oxide status, enhance endothelial function, and lower blood pressure acutely, outcomes that may benefit cardiovascular health.
Nitric Oxide Enables Germination by a Four-Pronged Attack on ABA-Induced Seed Dormancy
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 09-03-2018
Corrigendum: Nitric Oxide Enables Germination by a Four-Pronged Attack on ABA-Induced Seed Dormancy.
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 17-05-2018
The Expression of Alternative Oxidase and Uncoupling Protein during Fruit Ripening in Mango
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 08-2001
Abstract: The expression of alternative oxidase (Aox) and uncoupling proteins (Ucp) was investigated during ripening in mango (Mangifera indica) and compared with the expression of peroxisomal thiolase, a previously described ripening marker in mango. The multigene family for the Aox in mango was expressed differentially during ripening. Abundance of Aox message and protein both peaked at the ripe stage. Expression of the single gene for the Ucp peaked at the turning stage and the protein abundance peaked at the ripe stage. Proteins of the cytochrome chain peaked at the mature stage of ripening. The pattern of protein accumulation suggested that increases in cytochrome chain components played an important role in facilitating the climacteric burst of respiration and that the Aox and Ucp may play a role in post-climacteric senescent processes. Because both message and protein for the Aox and Ucp increased in a similar pattern, it suggests that their expression is not controlled in a reciprocal manner but may be active simultaneously.
Superoxide Stimulates a Proton Leak in Potato Mitochondria That Is Related to the Activity of Uncoupling Protein
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2003
Metabolic responses to sulfur dioxide in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.): photosynthetic tissues and berries
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 20-02-2015
On the language and physiology of dormancy and quiescence in plants
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 06-04-2016
DOI: 10.1093/JXB/ERW138
Abstract: The language of dormancy is rich and poetic, as researchers spanning disciplines and decades have attempted to understand the spell that entranced 'Sleeping Beauty', and how she was gently awoken. The misleading use of 'dormancy', applied to annual axillary buds, for ex le, has confounded progress. Language is increasingly important as genetic and genomic approaches become more accessible to species of agricultural and ecological importance. Here we examine how terminology has been applied to different eco-physiological states in plants, and with pertinent reference to quiescent states described in other domains of life, in order to place plant quiescence and dormancy in a more complete context than previously described. The physiological consensus defines latency or quiescence as opportunistic avoidance states, where growth resumes in favourable conditions. In contrast, the dormant state in higher plants is entrained in the life history of the organism. Competence to resume growth requires quantitative and specific conditioning. This definition applies only to the embryo of seeds and specialized meristems in higher plants however, mechanistic control of dormancy extends to mobile signals from peripheral tissues and organs, such as the endosperm of seed or subtending leaf of buds. The distinction between dormancy, quiescence, and stress-hardiness remains poorly delineated, most particularly in buds of winter perennials, which comprise multiple meristems of differing organogenic states. Studies in seeds have shown that dormancy is not a monogenic trait, and limited study has thus far failed to canalize dormancy as seen in seeds and buds. We argue that a common language, based on physiology, is central to enable further dissection of the quiescent and dormant states in plants. We direct the topic largely to woody species showing a single cycle of growth and reproduction per year, as these bear the majority of global timber, fruit, and nut production, as well being of great ecological value. However, for context and hypotheses, we draw on knowledge from annuals and other specialized plant conditions, from a perspective of the major physical, metabolic, and molecular cues that regulate cellular activity.
Oxygen and reactive oxygen species-dependent regulation of plant growth and development
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 18-12-2020
Abstract: Oxygen and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been co-opted during evolution into the regulation of plant growth, development, and differentiation. ROS and oxidative signals arising from metabolism or phytohormone-mediated processes control almost every aspect of plant development from seed and bud dormancy, liberation of meristematic cells from the quiescent state, root and shoot growth, and architecture, to flowering and seed production. Moreover, the phytochrome and phytohormone-dependent transmissions of ROS waves are central to the systemic whole plant signaling pathways that integrate root and shoot growth. The sensing of oxygen availability through the PROTEOLYSIS 6 (PRT6) N-degron pathway functions alongside ROS production and signaling but how these pathways interact in developing organs remains poorly understood. Considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the nature of hydrogen peroxide sensors and the role of thiol-dependent signaling networks in the transmission of ROS signals. Reduction/oxidation (redox) changes in the glutathione (GSH) pool, glutaredoxins (GRXs), and thioredoxins (TRXs) are important in the control of growth mediated by phytohormone pathways. Although, it is clear that the redox states of proteins involved in plant growth and development are controlled by the NAD(P)H thioredoxin reductase (NTR)/TRX and reduced GSH/GRX systems of the cytosol, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and nucleus, we have only scratched the surface of this multilayered control and how redox-regulated processes interact with other cell signaling systems.
Redox Changes During the Cell Cycle in the Embryonic Root Meristem ofArabidopsis thaliana
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 20-12-2017
The sub/supra‐optimal temperature‐induced inhibition of photosynthesis and oxidative damage in cucumber leaves are alleviated by grafting onto figleaf gourd/luffa rootstocks
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-05-2014
DOI: 10.1111/PPL.12200
Abstract: Shoot-root communication is involved in plant stress responses, but its mechanism is largely unknown. To determine the role of roots in stress tolerance, cucumber (Cucumis sativus) shoots from plants with roots of their own or with figleaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia, a chilling-tolerant species) or luffa (Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roem., a heat-tolerant species) rootstocks were exposed to low (18/13°C), optimal (27/22°C) and high (36/31°C) temperatures, respectively. Grafting onto figleaf gourd and luffa rootstocks significantly alleviated chilling and heat-induced reductions, respectively, in biomass production and CO(2) assimilation capacity in the shoots, while levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation were decreased. Figleaf gourd and luffa rootstocks upregulated a subset of stress-responsive genes involved in signal transduction (MAPK1 and RBOH), transcriptional regulation (MYB and MYC), protein protection (HSP45.9 and HSP70), the antioxidant response (Cu/Zn-SOD, cAPX and GR), and photosynthesis (RBCL, RBCS, RCA and FBPase) at low and high growth temperatures, respectively, and this was accompanied by increased activity of the encoded enzymes and reduced glutathione redox homeostasis in the leaves. Moreover, Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) expression in cucumber leaves was strongly induced by the luffa rootstock at the high growth temperature but slightly induced by the figleaf gourd rootstock at low or high growth temperatures. These results indicate that rootstocks could induce significant changes in the transcripts of stress-responsive and defense-related genes, and the ROS scavenging activity via unknown signals, especially at stressful growth temperatures, and this is one of mechanisms involved in the grafting-induced stress tolerance.
Acute effects of chlorogenic acid on nitric oxide status, endothelial function, and blood pressure in healthy volunteers: A randomized trial
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 04-09-2012
DOI: 10.1021/JF303440J
Abstract: There is mounting evidence that specific dietary polyphenols can enhance vascular health by augmenting nitric oxide. Our aim was to investigate the acute effects of chlorogenic acid, an important dietary phenolic acid present in coffee (400 mg, equivalent to 2 cups of coffee), on nitric oxide status, endothelial function, and blood pressure. Healthy men and women (n = 23) were recruited to a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Chlorogenic acid resulted in significantly higher plasma concentrations of chlorogenic acid (P 0.10) and the measure of endothelial function (P = 0.60) were not significantly influenced. Chlorogenic acid can lower blood pressure acutely, an effect that, if sustained, would benefit cardiovascular health.
Mitochondrial Respiration and Oxygen Tension
Publisher: Springer New York
Date: 2017
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7292-0_11
Abstract: Measurements of respiration and oxygen tension in plant organs allow a precise understanding of mitochondrial capacity and function within the context of cellular oxygen metabolism. Here we describe methods that can be routinely used for the isolation of intact mitochondria, and the determination of respiratory electron transport, together with techniques for in vivo determination of oxygen tension and measurement of respiration by both CO
Neglecting legumes has compromised human health and sustainable food production
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-08-2016
Abstract: The United Nations declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (grain legumes) under the banner 'nutritious seeds for a sustainable future'. A second green revolution is required to ensure food and nutritional security in the face of global climate change. Grain legumes provide an unparalleled solution to this problem because of their inherent capacity for symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation, which provides economically sustainable advantages for farming. In addition, a legume-rich diet has health benefits for humans and livestock alike. However, grain legumes form only a minor part of most current human diets, and legume crops are greatly under-used. Food security and soil fertility could be significantly improved by greater grain legume usage and increased improvement of a range of grain legumes. The current lack of coordinated focus on grain legumes has compromised human health, nutritional security and sustainable food production.
The acute effect of flavonoid-rich apples and nitrate-rich spinach on cognitive performance and mood in healthy men and women
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1039/C3FO60590F
Abstract: Flavonoid-rich apples and nitrate-rich spinach augment NO status acutely with no concomitant improvements or deterioration in cognitive function and mood.
The initiation of bud burst in grapevine features dynamic regulation of the apoplastic pore size
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 30-04-2019
DOI: 10.1093/JXB/ERZ200
Abstract: Molecular modelling, histochemistry, and micro-computed tomography reveal that the apoplastic pore size is dynamically regulated during bud burst in grapevine, and associated with oxygenation of the meristematic core.
Flavonoid-Rich Apple Improves Endothelial Function in Individuals at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-12-2018
Abstract: The cardioprotective effects of apples are primarily attributed to flavonoids, found predominantly in the skin. This study aimed to determine if acute and/or chronic (4 weeks) ingestion of flavonoid-rich apples improves endothelial function, blood pressure (BP), and arterial stiffness in in iduals at risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In this randomized, controlled cross-over trial, acute and 4 week intake of apple with skin (high flavonoid apple, HFA) is compared to intake of apple flesh only (low flavonoid apple, LFA) in 30 participants. The primary outcome is endothelial function assessed using flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, while main secondary outcomes are 24 h ambulatory BP and arterial stiffness. Other outcomes include fasting serum glucose and lipoprotein profile, plasma heme oxygenase-1 (Hmox-1), F A lower risk of CVD with higher apple consumption could be mediated by the beneficial effect of apple skin on endothelial function, both acutely and chronically.
Spatio-temporal relief from hypoxia and production of reactive oxygen species during bud burst in grapevine (Vitis vinifera)
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 09-2015
DOI: 10.1093/AOB/MCV123
Growth temperature-induced changes in biomass accumulation, photosynthesis and glutathione redox homeostasis as influenced by hydrogen peroxide in cucumber
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.PLAPHY.2013.06.018
Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and glutathione (GSH) are involved in the stress response in plants. To elucidate the role of H2O2 in the acclimation of CO2 assimilation under sub- or supra-optimal growth temperatures, we examined the effect and interaction of H2O2 manipulation on the photosynthetic metabolism of cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) grown under five temperature regimes spanning above and below the optimal growth temperature 11/9, 18/15, 25/20, 32/27, and 39/33 °C (day/night), with or without dimethylthiourea (DMTU) or H2O2 treatment. As expected, exposure to sub- or supra-optimal growth temperatures resulted in decreased plant growth, associated with a decline in CO2 assimilation (Asat), Rubisco content, and activities of enzymes involved in the CO2 assimilation, as well as a decrease in the ratio of reduced (GSH) to oxidized (GSSG) glutathione (GSH/GSSG). Foliar application of H2O2 promoted, whilst DMTU retarded the capacity of plants to acclimate to non-optimal growth temperatures this was consistently shown in altered activity of redox-sensitive enzymes involved in CO2 assimilation. These results strongly suggest that the influence of growth temperature on CO2 assimilation was primarily targeted at the activities of the redox-sensitive enzymes of CO2 assimilation. Meanwhile, the data suggest that the cellular H2O2 level is an important signal for the glutathione-dependent regulation of redox-sensitive enzymes of CO2 assimilation in cucumber plants.
Systematic evaluation of chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing to study histone occupancy in dormancy transitions of grapevine buds
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 13-01-2023
Abstract: The regulation of DNA accessibility by histone modification has emerged as a paradigm of developmental and environmental programming. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) is a versatile tool to investigate in vivo protein–DNA interaction and has enabled advances in mechanistic understanding of physiologies. The technique has been successfully demonstrated in several plant species and tissues however, it has remained challenging in woody tissues, in particular complex structures such as perennating buds. Here we developed a ChIP method specifically for mature dormant buds of grapevine (Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon). Each step of the protocol was systematically optimized, including crosslinking, chromatin extraction, sonication and antibody validation. Analysis of histone H3-enriched DNA was performed to evaluate the success of the protocol and identify occupancy of histone H3 along grapevine bud chromatin. To our best knowledge, this is the first ChIP experiment protocol optimized for the grapevine bud system.
Metabolic regulation of quiescence in plants
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-04-2023
DOI: 10.1111/TPJ.16216
Abstract: Quiescence is a crucial survival attribute in which cell ision is repressed in a reversible manner. Although quiescence has long been viewed as an inactive state, recent studies have shown that it is an actively monitored process that is influenced by environmental stimuli. Here, we provide a perspective of the quiescent state and discuss how this process is tuned by energy, nutrient and oxygen status, and the pathways that sense and transmit these signals. We not only highlight the governance of canonical regulators and signalling mechanisms that respond to changes in nutrient and energy status, but also consider the central significance of mitochondrial functions and cues as key regulators of nuclear gene expression. Furthermore, we discuss how reactive oxygen species and the associated redox processes, which are intrinsically linked to energy carbohydrate metabolism, also play a key role in the orchestration of quiescence.
Hydrogen Cyanamide Causes Reversible G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest Accompanied by Oxidation of the Nucleus and Cytosol
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 23-06-2023
Abstract: Hydrogen cyanamide (HC) has been widely used in horticulture to trigger bud burst following dormancy. Its use has been banned in some countries due to human health concerns, however the search for effective safe alternatives is delayed by lack of knowledge of the mechanism of HC action. Earlier studies demonstrate that HC stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and alters the rate of cell ision. However, the relationships between HC effects on ROS, redox (reduction/oxidation) homeostasis and cell ision are unknown. This study used Arabidopsis thaliana ((L.) Heynh.) seedlings expressing the redox reporter roGFP2 to measure the oxidation states of the nuclei and cytosol in response to HC treatment. The Cytrap dual cell cycle phase marker system and flow cytometry were used to study associated changes in cell proliferation. HC (1.5 mM) reversibly inhibited root growth during a 24 h treatment. Higher concentrations were not reversible. HC did not synchronise the cell cycle, in contrast to hydroxyurea. Rather, HC caused a gradual accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase and decline of G1/S phase cells, 16 to 24 h post-treatment. This was accompanied by increased oxidation of both the nuclei and cytosol. Taken together, these findings show that HC impairs proliferation of embryonic root meristem cells in a reversible manner through restriction of G2/M transition accompanied by increased cellular oxidation.
Short-term effects of nitrate-rich green leafy vegetables on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in individuals with high-normal blood pressure
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.FREERADBIOMED.2014.09.021
Abstract: Evidence for a beneficial effect of dietary nitrate, through the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway, on measures of cardiovascular function in healthy in iduals is accumulating. It is less clear whether increased dietary nitrate intake from green leafy vegetables would have similar beneficial vascular effects in those at increased risk of developing hypertension. Our aim was to assess the effects of short-term regular consumption of increased nitrate from green leafy vegetables on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in in iduals with high-normal blood pressure. Thirty-eight men and women ages 30-70 years with systolic blood pressure 120 to 139 mm Hg were recruited to a randomized controlled crossover trial. The effects of a 7-day high-nitrate diet intervention (increased nitrate intake by at least 300 mg/day from green leafy vegetables) were compared to a 7-day low-nitrate diet intervention. Outcome measures included pre- and postintervention salivary and plasma nitrate and nitrite concentrations ambulatory, home, and office blood pressure augmentation index and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. The high-nitrate diet intervention resulted in at least a fourfold increase in salivary and plasma nitrate and nitrite (P<0.001). Ambulatory, home, and office blood pressure and arterial stiffness were not different between the high-nitrate diet and the low-nitrate diet. Increasing dietary nitrate intake in those with high-normal blood pressure and at increased risk of hypertension may not be an effective short-term strategy to lower blood pressure.
Broadcast urea reduces N 2 O but increases NO emissions compared with conventional and shallow-applied anhydrous ammonia in a coarse-textured soil
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-2011
DOI: 10.2134/JEQ2011.0240
Abstract: Despite the importance of anhydrous ammonia (AA) and urea as nitrogen (N) fertilizer sources in the United States, there have been few direct comparisons of their effects on soil nitrous oxide (NO) and nitric oxide (NO) emissions. We compared N oxide emissions, yields, and N fertilizer recovery efficiency (NFRE) in a corn ( L.) production system that used three different fertilizer practices: urea that was broadcast and incorporated (BU) and AA that was injected at a conventional depth (0.20 m) (AAc) and at a shallower depth (0.10 m) (AAs). Averaged over 2 yr in an irrigated loamy sand in Minnesota, growing season NO emissions increased in the order BU < AAc < AAs. In contrast, NO emissions were greater with BU than with AAc or AAs. Emissions of NO ranged from 0.5 to 1.4 kg N ha (50-140 g N Mg grain), while NO emissions ranged from 0.2 to 0.7 kg N ha (20-70 g N Mg grain). Emissions of total N oxides (NO + NO) increased in the order AAc < BU < AAs. Despite having the greatest emissions of NO and total N oxides, the AAs treatment had greater NFRE compared with the AAc treatment. These results provide additional evidence that AA emits more NO, but less NO, than broadcast urea and show that practices to reduce NO emissions do not always improve N use efficiency.
Root system architecture, physiological and transcriptional traits of soybean (Glycine max L.) in response to water deficit
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-09-2021
DOI: 10.1111/PPL.13201
Diversity arrays technology (DArT) markers in apple for genetic linkage maps
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-05-2011
Polyphenol Composition of Plum Selections in Relation to Total Antioxidant Capacity
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 09-10-2012
DOI: 10.1021/JF302903K
Abstract: Dietary polyphenols are associated with protection against chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease. Pharmacological studies show a range of bioactivities and efficacy attributable to specific polyphenols. While many fruits are rich in polyphenols, wide cultivar variation of polyphenol composition is common. Our objective was to determine the composition of major bioactive polyphenols in 29 prevarietal selections of Western Australian plums, and Black Amber as an evaluation in developing breeding tools to develop fruit that may have enhanced health-promoting capacities. Total phenolics were quantified colorimetrically selected polyphenols were quantified by HPLC and the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured by the antioxidant inhibition of oxygen radicals (AIOR) assay. Total phenolic concentration was significantly correlated with TAC (R = 0.95, P < 0.01). Neo-chlorogenic acid and quercetin glycosides were found to be the predominant polyphenols (mean 29.9 mg·kg(-1) and 50.7 mg·kg(-1), respectively). No significant correlations were found between the composition of predominant polyphenols in plums and the TAC. We argue that the value of in vitro TAC assays to breeding programs may be limited, and future research should focus on the heritability of known bioactive polyphenols.
The seasonal dynamics of bud dormancy in grapevine suggest a regulated checkpoint prior to acclimation
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 10-02-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.09.430520
Abstract: Grapevine ( Vitis vinifera L.) displays wide plasticity to climate and seasonality, ranging from strongly deciduous to evergreen. Understanding the physiology of decisions to grow or quiesce is critical for improved crop management, prediction, and the adaptability of production to alternative climate scenarios. The perenniating bud (N+2) is a major economic unit and focus of study. Here we investigated the physiology and transcriptome of cv. Merlot buds grown in a temperate maritime climate from summer to spring in two consecutive years. The changes in bud respiration, hydration and internal tissue oxygen data were consistent with the transcriptome data. ABA-responsive gene processes prevailed upon the transition to a deep metabolic and cellular quiescence in the bud during autumn. Light, together with hypoxia and redox signalling presided over the resumption of nuclear and cellular growth in the transition to spring. Comparisons with transcriptome data from bud burst studies revealed a number of regulatory candidates for the orderly resumption of growth in spring, including components that may integrate light and temperature signalling. Importantly however, the bud burst forcing data, which is widely used as a measure of bud dormancy, were not consistent with the physiological and transcription data. We hypothesise the existence of a physiological checkpoint following bud set in summer, which if not met results in extreme quiescence. Collectively this is the most integrated developmental dataset of the latent bud of cultivated grapevine, and establishes a platform for systems approaches to study seasonal plasticity. Physiology and transcriptome data provide strong evidence of a regulatory checkpoint prior to acclimation and dormancy in latent grapevine buds.
Phenolic composition of 91 Australian apple varieties: towards understanding their health attributes
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1039/D0FO01130D
Abstract: Apples, an important contributor to total dietary phenolic intake, are associated with cardiovascular health benefits.
Correction to Supplementation of a High-Fat Diet with Chlorogenic Acid Is Associated with Insulin Resistance and Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Mice
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 09-02-2015
Tankyrase inhibition promotes a stable human naïve pluripotent state with improved functionality
Publisher: The Company of Biologists
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1242/DEV.138982
Abstract: The derivation and maintenance of hPSC in stable naïve pluripotent states has wide impact in human developmental biology. However, hPSC are unstable in classical naïve mouse ESC WNT and MEK/ERK signal inhibition (2i) culture. We show that a broad repertoire of conventional human embryonic stem cell (hESC) and transgene-independent hiPSC lines could be reverted to stable human preimplantation ICM-like naïve states with only WNT, MEK/ERK, and tankyrase inhibition (LIF-3i). LIF-3i-reverted hPSC retained normal karyotypes and attained defining mouse ESC-like functional features including high clonal self-renewal, independence from MEK-ERK signalling, dependence on JAK-STAT3 and BMP4 signaling, and naïve-specific transcriptional and epigenetic configurations. Tankyrase inhibition promoted a stable acquisition of a human preimplantation ICM-like ground state via modulation of WNT signalling, and was most efficacious in efficiently reprogrammed conventional hiPSC. Importantly, naïve reversion of a broad repertoire of conventional hiPSC reduced lineage-primed gene expression, and significantly improved their multi-lineage differentiation capacities. Stable naïve hPSC with reduced genetic variability and improved functional pluripotency will have great utility in regenerative medicine and human disease modeling.
Unravelling how plants benefit from ROS and NO reactions, while resisting oxidative stress
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 09-2015
DOI: 10.1093/AOB/MCV153
Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as nitric oxide (NO), play crucial roles in the signal transduction pathways that regulate plant growth, development and defence responses, providing a nexus of reduction/oxidation (redox) control that impacts on nearly every aspect of plant biology. Here we summarize current knowledge and concepts that lay the foundations of a new vision for ROS/RNS functions – particularly through signalling hubs – for the next decade. Plants have mastered the art of redox control using ROS and RNS as secondary messengers to regulate a erse range of protein functions through redox-based, post-translational modifications that act as regulators of molecular master-switches. Much current focus concerns the impact of this regulation on local and systemic signalling pathways, as well as understanding how such reactive molecules can be effectively used in the control of plant growth and stress responses. The spectre of oxidative stress still overshadows much of our current philosophy and understanding of ROS and RNS functions. While many questions remain to be addressed – for ex le regarding inter-organellar regulation and communication, the control of hypoxia and how ROS/RNS signalling is used in plant cells, not only to trigger acclimation responses but also to create molecular memories of stress – it is clear that ROS and RNS function as vital signals of living cells.
Dietary flavonoids and nitrate: Effects on nitric oxide and vascular function
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 24-03-2015
Abstract: Emerging evidence highlights dietary flavonoids and nitrate as candidates that may explain at least part of the cardioprotective effect of a fruit and vegetable diet. Nitric oxide plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular health. Components of a fruit and vegetable diet that are cardioprotective, in part through effects on nitric oxide status, could substantially reduce the cardiovascular risk profile of the general population with increased intake of such a diet. Epidemiological evidence suggests that dietary flavonoids and nitrate have a cardioprotective effect. Clinical trials with flavonoid- and nitrate-rich foods have shown benefits on measures of vascular health. While the molecular mechanisms by which flavonoids and nitrate are cardioprotective are not completely understood, recent evidence suggests both nonspecific and specific effects through nitric oxide pathways. This review presents an overview of nitric oxide and its key role in cardiovascular health and discusses the possible vascular benefits of flavonoids and nitrate, in idually and in combination, through effects on nitric oxide status.
Systematic evaluation of chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing to study histone occupancy in dormancy transitions of grapevine buds
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 16-03-2022
DOI: 10.1101/2022.03.14.484366
Abstract: 1. The regulation of DNA accessibility by histone modification has emerged as a paradigm of developmental and environmental programming. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) is a versatile tool widely used to investigate in vivo protein-DNA interaction. The technique has been successfully demonstrated in several plant species and tissues however, it has remained challenging in woody tissues. Here we developed a ChIP method specifically for mature dormant grapevine buds ( Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon). Each step of the protocol was systematically optimised, including crosslinking, chromatin extraction, sonication, and antibody validation. Analysis of histone H3-enriched DNA was performed to evaluate the success of the protocol and identify occupancy of histone H3 along grapevine bud chromatin. To our best knowledge, this is the first ChIP experiment protocol optimised for grapevine bud system.
An Evaluation of Nuclei Preparation of the Dormant Axillary Bud of Grapevine for Cell Cycle Analysis by Flow Cytometry
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 24-02-2022
Abstract: Whether the ision of cells of a dormant meristem may be arrested, e.g., in the G1 phase, has proven to be an extremely difficult hypothesis to test. This is particularly so for woody perennial buds, where dormant and quiescent states are diffuse, and the organ may remain visibly unchanged for 6–9 months of the year. Flow cytometry (FCM) has been widely applied in plant studies to determine the genome size and endopolyploidy. In this study, we present the application of FCM to measure the cell cycle status in mature dormant buds of grapevine ( Vitis vinifera cv. Cabernet Sauvignon), which represent a technically recalcitrant structure. This protocol illustrates the optimisation and validation of FCM data analysis to calculate the cell cycle status, or mitotic index, of dormant grapevine buds. We have shown how contamination with debris can be experimentally managed and give reference to the more malleable tomato leaves. We have also given a clear illustration of the primary pitfalls of data analysis to avoid artefacts or false results. Data acquisition and analysis strategies are detailed and can be readily applied to analyse FCM data from other recalcitrant plant s les.
Modelling predicts that soybean is poised to dominate crop production across A frica
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-11-2018
DOI: 10.1111/PCE.13466
Abstract: The superior agronomic and human nutritional properties of grain legumes (pulses) make them an ideal foundation for future sustainable agriculture. Legume-based farming is particularly important in Africa, where small-scale agricultural systems dominate the food production landscape. Legumes provide an inexpensive source of protein and nutrients to African households as well as natural fertilization for the soil. Although the consumption of traditionally grown legumes has started to decline, the production of soybeans (Glycine max Merr.) is spreading fast, especially across southern Africa. Predictions of future land-use allocation and production show that the soybean is poised to dominate future production across Africa. Land use models project an expansion of harvest area, whereas crop models project possible yield increases. Moreover, a seed change in farming strategy is underway. This is being driven largely by the combined cash crop value of products such as oils and the high nutritional benefits of soybean as an animal feed. Intensification of soybean production has the potential to reduce the dependence of Africa on soybean imports. However, a successful "soybean bonanza" across Africa necessitates an intensive research, development, extension, and policy agenda to ensure that soybean genetic improvements and production technology meet future demands for sustainable production.
Developmental control of hypoxia during bud burst in grapevine.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-02-2018
DOI: 10.1111/PCE.13141
Abstract: Dormant or quiescent buds of woody perennials are often dense and in the case of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) have a low tissue oxygen status. The precise timing of the decision to resume growth is difficult to predict, but once committed, the increase in tissue oxygen status is rapid and developmentally regulated. Here, we show that more than a third of the grapevine homologues of widely conserved hypoxia-responsive genes and nearly a fifth of all grapevine genes possessing a plant hypoxia-responsive promoter element were differentially regulated during bud burst, in apparent harmony with resumption of meristem identity and cell-cycle gene regulation. We then investigated the molecular and biochemical properties of the grapevine ERF-VII homologues, which in other species are oxygen labile and function in transcriptional regulation of hypoxia-responsive genes. Each of the 3 VvERF-VIIs were substrates for oxygen-dependent proteolysis in vitro, as a function of the N-terminal cysteine. Collectively, these data support an important developmental function of oxygen-dependent signalling in determining the timing and effective coordination bud burst in grapevine. In addition, novel regulators, including GASA-, TCP-, MYB3R-, PLT-, and WUS-like transcription factors, were identified as hallmarks of the orderly and functional resumption of growth following quiescence in buds.
A mechanistic treatment of the dominant soil nitrogen cycling processes: Model development, testing, and application
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 24-04-2008
DOI: 10.1029/2007JG000578
Sulphur dioxide evokes a large scale reprogramming of the grape berry transcriptome associated with oxidative signalling and biotic defence responses
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-07-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-3040.2011.02379.X
Abstract: The grape and wine industries are heavily reliant on sulphite preservatives. However, the view that sulphites act directly on bacterial and fungal pathogens may be simplistic. Mechanisms of sulphur-enhanced defences are largely unknown many sulphur-rich compounds enhance plant defences and sulphite can also have oxidative consequences via production of H(2)O(2) or sulphitolysis. To investigate the effects of sulphur dioxide (SO(2) ) on fresh table grapes (Vitis vinifera L. 'Crimson Seedless'), transcriptome analysis was carried out on berries treated with SO(2) under commercial conditions for 21 d. We found a broad perturbation of metabolic processes, consistent with a large-scale stress response. Transcripts encoding putative sulphur-metabolizing enzymes indicated that sulphite was directed towards chelation and conjugation, and away from oxidation to sulphate. The results indicated that redox poise was altered dramatically by SO(2) treatment, evidenced by alterations in plastid and mitochondrial alternative electron transfer pathways, up-regulation of fermentation transcripts and numerous glutathione S-transferases, along with a down-regulation of components involved in redox homeostasis. Features of biotic stress were up-regulated, notably signalling via auxin, ethylene and jasmonates. Taken together, this inventory of transcriptional responses is consistent with a long-term cellular response to oxidative stress, similar to the effects of reactive oxygen species.
Redox Regulation of Plant Development
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 20-09-2014
Physiological regulation of bud burst in grapevine
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 22-11-2018
DOI: 10.1101/476879
Abstract: The physiological constraints on bud burst in woody perennials, including the prerequisite for vascular development remain unresolved. Both light and tissue oxygen status have emerged as important cues for vascular development in other systems, however, light requirement appears to be facultative in grapevine, and the information related to the spatial variability of oxygen in buds is unclear. Here, we analysed apoplastic development at early stages of grapevine bud burst and combined molecular modelling with histochemical techniques to determine the pore size of cell walls in grapevine buds. The data demonstrate that quiescent grapevine buds were impermeable to apoplastic dyes (acid fuchsin and eosin Y) until after bud burst was established. The molecular exclusion size was calculated to be 2.1 nm, which would exclude most macromolecules except simple sugars and phytohormones. In vivo experiments show that grapevine buds were able to resume growth even following excision from the cane, and that the outer scales of grapevine buds may participate in the biochemical repression of bud burst. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the tissue oxygen partial pressure data correlated well with structural heterogeneity within the bud and differences in tissue density. These data consolidate evidence that the meristematic core becomes rapidly oxygenated during bud burst. Taken together, and when put in the context of earlier studies, these data provide solid evidence that the physiological and biochemical events that initiate bud burst reside within the bud, and question the role of long distance signalling in this developmental transition. The apoplastic pore size between the grapevine bud and the mother vine is dynamically regulated in the transition to bud burst. The molecular exclusion size of the apoplastic connection between the bud and cane is calculated 2.1 nm prior to the initiation of bud burst. The structural heterogeneity of the bud explains the spatial variance in tissue oxygen status, and the meristematic core is oxygenated during the initiation of bud burst. Long distance maternal signals are not a requirement for bud burst.
Evaluation of vacuum infiltration vitrification and cryo-mesh cryopreservation techniques with Arabidopsis thaliana shoot tips
Publisher: CryoLetters Limited Liability Partnership
Date: 11-2022
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Novel cryo-techniques are continuously being developed that may better improve cryogenic survival in plants, with the aim of reducing exposure times to otherwise toxic cryoprotective agents whilst maximising regeneration rates. OBJECTIVE: This study used cryo-mesh and vacuum infiltration vitrification with two vitrification solutions (PVS2 and PVS3) to develop an optimised cryopreservation protocol for Arabidopsis thaliana . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Shoot tips from 10-day old seedlings of wild type A. thaliana were cryopreserved using either vacuum infiltration vitrification or the cryo-mesh technique. Shoot tips were treated for up to 60 min in increments of 10 min with PVS2 and PVS3, and for an additional 180 and 300 min incubation for cryo-mesh prior to exposure to liquid nitrogen. RESULTS: Both methods resulted in very high regeneration rates, but which decreased after longer exposure to the vitrification solutions. The highest regeneration rate for vacuum-infiltration vitrification was attained after only 30 min incubation in PVS2 (92.5%) and 50 min incubation in PVS3 (93.55%). In the case of cryo-mesh the highest regeneration was observed after 180 min incubation in either PVS2 (100%) or PVS3 (92.2%). CONCLUSION: Vacuum- infiltration vitrification is more effective than cryo-mesh by reducing exposure times to cryoprotective solutions whilst achieving very high regeneration rates of shoot tips of A. thaliana .
The role of hydrogen peroxide in tomato axillary shoot growth
Publisher: Research Square Platform LLC
Date: 22-05-2023
DOI: 10.21203/RS.3.RS-2791713/V1
Abstract: The plasticity of shoot branching determines the aerial structure of plants. The establishment of shoot branching depends on the capability of axillary meristem to grow, which is regulated in part by the balance of plant hormones auxin and cytokinin. Emerging evidence indicates that reactive oxygen species also play a regulatory role in axillary shoot branching. This study explored the concentration dependence of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) on axillary bud outgrowth of tomatoes under two growth conditions, a glasshouse and a controlled environment room (CER). Here we showed the effect of oxidative treatments was inconsistent between the two growth conditions. H₂O₂ repressed axillary bud outgrowth in glasshouse-grown plants, while in CER-grown plants, H₂O₂ positively regulates axillary bud outgrowth in concentrations up to 5 mM, indicating that growth conditions influence the effect of H₂O₂ treatment. Furthermore, results suggest that the effect of H₂O₂ in modulating axillary bud outgrowth appeared to be concentration-dependent. This study has identified the significance of reactive oxygen species in regulating axillary shoot branching in tomatoes, highlighting the importance of H₂O₂ dosage and the influence of environmental conditions which potentially affect the oxidative treatments.
Molecular Distinction between Alternative Oxidase from Monocots and Dicots
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 07-2002
DOI: 10.1104/PP.004150
Respiratory gene expression in soybean cotyledons during post-germinative development
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2003
Abstract: Gene expression for nuclear- and mitochondrial-encoded subunits of respiratory chain components was measured in developing soybean cotyledons and compared to the abundance of the relevant proteins. Overall respiratory gene expression peaked at day 16, close to the peak in cytochrome chain and TCA cycle activities from day 10 to 15. Protein abundance followed transcript abundance for all components examined with the exception of the F1beta subunit of ATP synthase. A dramatic peak in F1beta transcript levels early in development (day 5 to 7) was not mirrored by an increase in protein suggesting translational or post-translational control. Mitochondrial-encoded transcripts were at least 10-fold more abundant than nuclear-encoded transcripts. The pattern of transcript and protein abundance for uncoupling proteins displayed a trend similar to other respiratory proteins examined, implicating similar control mechanisms. The expression of alternative oxidase differed, increasing throughout development with protein peaking at day 20, perhaps suggesting a role in senescence. Overall, this study indicated that respiratory gene expression and protein abundance is co-ordinated with respiratory activity for most components but that some components, such as the F1beta subunit may be under discrete forms of regulation.
Antibacterial mouthwash blunts oral nitrate reduction and increases blood pressure in treated hypertensive men and women
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 30-10-2015
DOI: 10.1093/AJH/HPU192
Abstract: Endothelial nitric oxide (NO) is fundamental to cardiovascular health. Dietary nitrate and nitrate from endothelial derived NO metabolism provides a significant contribution to the circulating NO pool through the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway. A critical step in this pathway is the reduction of nitrate to nitrite by the oral microbiota. We aimed to assess the effects of antibacterial mouthwash use on markers of nitrate-nitrite-NO metabolism and blood pressure in treated hypertensive men and women. Fifteen treated hypertensive men and women (mean age 65 years) were recruited to a randomized controlled cross-over trial. The effects of 3-day use of antibacterial mouthwash on oral nitrate to nitrite reduction, salivary and plasma nitrate and nitrite, plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were compared to control (water). Relative to control, 3-day antibacterial mouthwash use resulted in decreased oral nitrate to nitrite reduction (P = 0.02), decreased salivary nitrite (P = 0.01) and increased salivary nitrate (P < 0.001), and there was a trend toward a decrease in plasma nitrite concentration (P = 0.09). Use of antibacterial mouthwash over 3 days also resulted in higher systolic blood pressure (2.3mm Hg 95% CI: 0.5, 4.0 P = 0.01), but not diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.4) or plasma cGMP (P = 0.7), relative to control. Interruption of the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway through the use of antibacterial mouthwash was paralleled by a small elevation of systolic blood pressure in treated hypertensive men and women.
Roles for Light, Energy, and Oxygen in the Fate of Quiescent Axillary Buds
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 04-12-2017
DOI: 10.1104/PP.17.01479
Integration of reactive oxygen species and nutrient signalling to shape root system architecture
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-12-2022
DOI: 10.1111/PCE.14504
Abstract: Yield losses due to nutrient deficiency are estimated as the primary cause of the yield gap worldwide. Understanding how plant roots perceive external nutrient status and elaborate morphological adaptations in response to it is necessary to develop reliable strategies to increase crop yield. In the last decade, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were shown to be key players of the mechanisms underlying root responses to nutrient limitation. ROS contribute in multiple ways to shape the root system in response to nutritional cues, both as direct effectors acting on cell wall architecture and as second messengers in signalling pathways. Here, we review the mutual interconnections existing between perception and signalling of the most common forms of the major macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium), and ROS in shaping plant root system architecture. We discuss recent advances in dissecting the integration of these elements and their impact on morphological traits of the root system, highlighting the functional ductility of ROS and enzymes implied in ROS metabolism, such as class III peroxidases.
Learning To Breathe: Developmental Phase Transitions in Oxygen Status
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.TPLANTS.2016.11.013
Abstract: Plants are developmentally disposed to significant changes in oxygen availability, but our understanding of the importance of hypoxia is almost entirely limited to stress biology. Differential patterns of the abundance of oxygen, nitric oxide (
Unraveling the role of mitochondria during oxidative stress in plants
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2001
DOI: 10.1080/152165401753311735
Abstract: The sedentary habit of plants means that they must stand and fight environmental stresses that their mobile animal cousins can avoid. A range of these abiotic stresses initiate the production in plant cells of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that ultimately lead to oxidative damage affecting the yield and quality of plant products. A complex network of enzyme systems, producing and quenching these reactive species operate in different organelles. It is the integration of these compartmented defense systems that coordinates an effective response to the various stresses. Future attempts to improve plant growth or yield must consider the complexity of inter-organelle signaling and protein targeting if they are to be successful in producing plants with resistance to a broad range of stresses. Here we highlight the role of pre-oxidant, antioxidant, and post-oxidant defense systems in plant mitochondria and the potential role of proteins targeted to both mitochondria and chloroplasts, in an integrated defense against oxidative damage in plants.
The bud dormancy disconnect: latent buds of grapevine are dormant during summer despite a high metabolic rate
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-01-2022
DOI: 10.1093/JXB/ERAC001
Abstract: Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) displays wide plasticity to climate however, the physiology of dormancy along a seasonal continuum is poorly understood. Here we investigated the apparent disconnect between dormancy and the underlying respiratory physiology and transcriptome of grapevine buds, from bud set in summer to bud burst in spring. The establishment of dormancy in summer was pronounced and reproducible however, this was coupled with little or no change in physiology, indicated by respiration, hydration, and tissue oxygen tension. The release of dormancy was biphasic the depth of dormancy declined substantially by mid-autumn, while the subsequent decline towards spring was moderate. Observed changes in physiology failed to explain the first phase of dormancy decline, in particular. Transcriptome data contrasting development from summer through to spring also indicated that dormancy was poorly reflected by metabolic quiescence during summer and autumn. Gene Ontology and enrichment data revealed the prevailing influence of abscisic acid (ABA)-related gene expression during the transition from summer to autumn, and promoter motif analysis suggested that photoperiod may play an important role in regulating ABA functions during the establishment of dormancy. Transcriptomic data from later transitions reinforced the importance of oxidation and hypoxia as physiological cues to regulate the maintenance of quiescence and resumption of growth. Collectively these data reveal a novel disconnect between growth and metabolic quiescence in grapevine following bud set, which requires further experimentation to explain the phenology and dormancy relationships.
Soil Water Content Directly Affects Bud Burst Rate in Single-Node Cuttings of Perennial Plants
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 31-01-2022
Abstract: The use of single-node cuttings of shoots as explants to study bud dormancy and its physiology under controlled conditions is a common practice in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) or other perennial plant research. In particular, this method has been extensively used to understand the effect of different chemicals on bud dormancy and bud burst. However, the soil water content in those experiments is usually not reported and its relevance is often neglected. Here, we observed that an unevenly distributed soil water content in a tray containing multiple explants results in an uneven pattern of bud burst within the same treatment. Thus, we hypothesised that soil water content can dramatically affect bud burst. To investigate this, we first established that fresh single-node cuttings were able to transport water into the buds. We then tested the rate of bud burst at different water treatments (35%, 55%, 70%, 85%, and 100% of field capacity FC). We observed a clear dependence of bud burst on water, in which, at very low levels of water, bud burst does not occur after 35% FC, bud burst rate increases with water content until around 85% FC and, from 85% FC, bud burst rate becomes independent of water content. These data highlight the critical importance of monitoring soil water content in any bud burst assay in perennials. Finally, we provide a detailed protocol for determining and controlling field capacity and other soil water content indicators.
Oxygen, Energy, and Light Signalling Direct Meristem Fate
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.TPLANTS.2017.09.013
Abstract: Light, nutrition, and oxygen are each important cues for developmental transitions in plants. A small number of recent studies have converged to give the first indication of how these environmental cues act together and independently via auxin, cytokinin, and ethylene to regulate cell proliferation in the root and shoot meristems.
Identifying environmental drivers of greenhouse gas emissions under warming and reduced rainfall in boreal–temperate forests
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-07-2017
Cell cycle arrest in plants: what distinguishes quiescence, dormancy and differentiated G1?
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 21-07-2017
DOI: 10.1093/AOB/MCX082
Nitrate causes a dose-dependent augmentation of nitric oxide status in healthy women
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1039/C2FO10206D
Abstract: Green leafy vegetables, high in dietary nitrate, may contribute to cardiovascular health by augmenting nitric oxide status. The exogenous enterosalivary pathway of nitrate reduction to nitrite appears to be a critical determinant of the effects of nitrate. Our primary objective was to investigate the dose-response of nitrate intake on nitric oxide status and nitrate reduction in the mouth. We also assessed whether antibacterial toothpaste can inhibit nitrate reduction and blunt subsequent increases in circulating nitric oxide. A randomised, controlled, crossover trial with healthy women (n = 16) was conducted. The acute effects of four doses of nitrate (0 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg, as well as 400 mg plus antibacterial toothpaste), administered in random order, were compared. Measurements included biomarkers of plasma nitric oxide status, assessed by measuring S-nitrosothiols + other nitroso species (RXNO) and nitrite, and a biomarker of nitrate reduction in the mouth, assessed by measuring salivary nitrite. Compared to 0 mg, all doses of nitrate resulted in higher plasma RXNO and nitrite, and salivary nitrite (P < 0.05). A linear dose-response to nitrate intake was observed with plasma RXNO and nitrite, and salivary nitrite (P 0.9) or blunt the increase in nitric oxide status (P > 0.9). Thus, our study has demonstrated that increasing nitrate intake results in a dose-related increase in nitrate reduction in the mouth and nitric oxide status, and that use of antibacterial toothpaste does not inhibit nitrate reduction or blunt increases in circulating nitric oxide.
Nature’s pulse power: legumes, food security and climate change
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 04-2017
DOI: 10.1093/JXB/ERX099
Supplementation of a High-Fat Diet with Chlorogenic Acid Is Associated with Insulin Resistance and Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Mice
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 26-04-2013
DOI: 10.1021/JF400920X
Abstract: The increasing prevalence of the metabolic syndrome requires a greater need for therapeutic and prevention strategies. Higher coffee consumption is consistently associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes in population studies. Dietary polyphenols have been linked to benefits on several features of the metabolic syndrome. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a major component of coffee, is one of the most consumed polyphenols in the diet. In our study, we conducted a controlled dietary intervention over 12 weeks in male mice. There were three dietary groups: (i) normal diet, (ii) high-fat diet, and (iii) high-fat diet + CGA. We assessed the effect of CGA at a physiologically obtainable dose (1 g/kg of diet) on high-fat-diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and also fatty acid oxidation and insulin signaling in C57BL/6 male mice. Supplementation of CGA in the high-fat diet did not reduce body weight compared to mice fed the high-fat diet alone (p = 0.32). CGA resulted in increased insulin resistance compared to mice fed a high-fat diet only (p < 0.05). CGA resulted in decreased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) (p < 0.001) and acetyl carboxylase β (ACCβ), a downstream target of AMPK (p < 0.05), in liver. The liver of mice fed a high-fat diet supplemented with CGA had a higher lipid content (p < 0.05) and more steatosis relative to mice fed a high-fat diet only, indicating impaired fatty acid oxidation. This study suggests that CGA supplementation in a high-fat diet does not protect against features of the metabolic syndrome in diet-induced obese mice.
Contrasting seasonal dynamics of dormancy, respiratory metabolism and cell cycle state in grapevine buds of a subtropical and Mediterranean climate
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-11-2022
DOI: 10.1002/FES3.431
Abstract: Grapevine ( Vitis vinifera L.) is the most widely cultivated fruit crop worldwide, contributing substantially to rural economies. The production cycle and productivity depend on seasonal cues and can range from a strongly deciduous habit in cool‐temperate climates to evergreen in subtropical and tropical climates. The influence of the different seasonal conditions on the dynamics of the perennating bud, including the degree of growth and metabolic quiescence, cell cycle status and internal tissue oxygen status between different climatic zones is largely unknown. This knowledge is important for adapting to changing climate conditions and for crop expansion to wider regions. This study investigated the growth and metabolic physiology of the perennating bud of commercially grown cv. Flame Seedless table grapes from Mediterranean and subtropical climate in Western Australia, from summer until late winter. Climate data were obtained, showing differences in minimum (night) temperature between the two climates, reflected by differences in calculated chilling units. Bud dormancy increased during autumn of both climates however, the onset and depth of dormancy of buds from the subtropical region were attenuated relative to the Mediterranean condition. Stark contrasts were also observed in metabolism. The respiration of subtropical‐grown buds increased over fivefold during late autumn and winter, while that of Mediterranean‐grown buds increased less than twofold. This was also reflected in less desiccation of the subtropical‐grown buds, and an apparently greater degree of hypoxia within the bud during late winter, prior to bud burst. Collectively, these data show pronounced differences in growth and metabolic physiology of commercially grown table grapes, which provide a foundation for investigating the influence of differing climate and seasonality on the growth and productivity of table grapes and how these may be managed through breeding and agronomy.
Related Organisations
Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development
Location: Australia
University Of Leeds
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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