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ABSTRACT: Water availability is a major limiting factor on plant growth and productivity. Considering that Eucalyptus spp. are among the few plant species able to produce both isoprene and monoterpenes, experiments were designed to investigate the response of isoprene emission and isoprenoid concentrations in Eucalyptus citriodora saplings exposed to decreasing fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW). In particular, this study aimed to assess: (a) the kinetic of water stress-induced variations in photosynthesis, isoprene emission, and leaf isoprenoid concentrations during progressive soil water shortage as a function of FTSW; (b) the ultradian control of isoprene emission and photosynthesis under limited soil water availability; and (c) the optimum temperature sensitivity of isoprene emission and photosynthesis under severe water stress. The optimum temperature for isoprene emission did not change under progressive soil water deficit. However, water stress induced a reallocation of carbon through the MEP/DOXP pathway resulting in a qualitative change of the stored isoprenoids. The ultradian trend of isoprene emission was also unaffected under water stress, and a similar ultradian trend of stomatal and mesophyll conductances was also observed, highlighting a tight coordination between diffusion limitations to photosynthesis during water stress. The kinetics of photosynthetic parameters and isoprene emission in response to decreasing FTSW in E. citriodora are strikingly similar to those measured in other plant functional types. These findings may be useful to refine the algorithms employed in process-based models aiming to precisely up-scale carbon assimilation and isoprenoid emissions at regional and global scales.
Journal of Experimental Botany 01/2013; · 5.36 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Hybrid poplar (Populus × canadensis) saplings were subjected to acute ultraviolet-A (UV-A) irradiation (30 W m(-2) , ambient treatment, 60, 90 and 120 W m(-2) of UV-A irradiance) to determine the effects on photosynthesis and biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions in two different short-term experiments (i.e. sequential increase in UV-A irradiance and UV-A intensity-response relationships). Both intensity-response experiments showed that the UV-A ambient treatment did not affect photosynthesis and BVOC emissions. Whereas exposition at 60, 90 and 120 W m(-2) of UV-A (first experiment), increasingly inhibited photosynthesis. This increasing inhibition was also detected by decreasing trends of both photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and fluorescence yield. Isoprene emission resulted to be very sensitive to increasing UV-A irradiances. Methanol was also very sensitive to high UV-A radiation, suggesting the occurrence of strong damages of cellular structures. The second experiment, which was performed both in the middle of July and repeated towards the end of the summer, showed a temporal variations in the UV-A intensity-response relationships. In fact, there were no longer significant differences in photosynthesis, PRI and isoprene emission in response to high UV-A radiation toward the end of the summer season. The adaxial flavonoid level increased significantly over the period monitored, resulting 85% higher toward the end of the summer than during the middle of the summer. This dramatic increase in the adaxial flavonoids may have played a protective role against UV-A radiation by shielding leaves. Our findings add to the understanding of physiological processes involved in plant response to UV radiation.
Physiologia Plantarum 08/2012; · 3.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We investigated the photosynthetic limitations occurring during dehydration and rehydration of Xerophyta humilis, a poikilochlorophyllous resurrection plant, and whether volatile and non-volatile isoprenoids might be involved in desiccation tolerance. Photosynthesis declined rapidly after dehydration below 85% relative water content (RWC). Raising intercellular CO(2) concentrations during desiccation suggest that the main photosynthetic limitation was photochemical, affecting energy-dependent RuBP regeneration. Imaging fluorescence confirmed that both the number of photosystem II (PSII) functional reaction centres and their efficiency were impaired under progressive dehydration, and revealed the occurrence of heterogeneous photosynthesis during desiccation, being the basal leaf area more resistant to the stress. Full recovery in photosynthetic parameters occurred on rehydration, confirming that photosynthetic limitations were fully reversible and that no permanent damage occurred. During desiccation, zeaxanthin and lutein increased only when photosynthesis had ceased, implying that these isoprenoids do not directly scavenge reactive oxygen species, but rather protect photosynthetic membranes from damage and consequent denaturation. X. humilis was found to emit isoprene, a volatile isoprenoid that acts as a membrane strengthener in plants. Isoprene emission was stimulated by drought and peaked at 80% RWC. We surmise that isoprene and non-volatile isoprenoids cooperate in reducing membrane damage in X. humilis, isoprene being effective when desiccation is moderate while non-volatile isoprenoids operate when water deficit is more extreme.
Plant Cell and Environment 05/2012; · 5.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The combined effect of water stress and ozone (O3) on stomatal O3 flux, damage to photosynthesis, and detoxification by biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) in Quercus ilex leaves was studied. A 4-weeks O3 exposure (250ppb, 4h per day) caused a reduction of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, which was fully recovered
1week after the end of the treatment, in well-watered and water-stressed plants. Measurements of stomatal O3 flux revealed a low stomatal flux of the pollutant, which became minimal after stomatal closure caused by water stress. An
induction of volatile monoterpenes, important compounds in the O3 scavenging system in Q. ilex, and a burst of lipoxygenase compounds (LOX), which are released as gaseous by-products of membrane peroxidation, was observed
after 2–3weeks of O3 fumigation. However, these compounds were also released in control leaves that were exposed to ozone only briefly, to determine
stomatal O3 flux. The low stomatal flux that occurred in water stress conditions helped avoiding permanent damage to Q. ilex leaves, although during the O3 treatment photosynthesis was severely limited by stomatal closure. In well-watered plants, O3 fumigation caused a noticeable increase of nocturnal stomatal conductance. If confirmed on adult plants under field conditions,
this effect can imply larger flux of O3 at night and possible detrimental effects of O3 on leaf functions in plants exposed to high nocturnal O3 levels.
Water Air and Soil Pollution 04/2012; 189(1):113-125. · 1.63 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The theoretical basis for the link between the leaf exchange of carbonyl sulfide (COS), carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and water vapour (H(2)O) and the assumptions that need to be made in order to use COS as a tracer for canopy net photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance, are reviewed. The ratios of COS to CO(2) and H(2)O deposition velocities used to this end are shown to vary with the ratio of the internal to ambient CO(2) and H(2)O mole fractions and the relative limitations by boundary layer, stomatal and internal conductance for COS. It is suggested that these deposition velocity ratios exhibit considerable variability, a finding that challenges current parameterizations, which treat these as vegetation-specific constants. COS is shown to represent a better tracer for CO(2) than H(2)O. Using COS as a tracer for stomatal conductance is hampered by our present poor understanding of the leaf internal conductance to COS. Estimating canopy level CO(2) and H(2)O fluxes requires disentangling leaf COS exchange from other ecosystem sources/sinks of COS. We conclude that future priorities for COS research should be to improve the quantitative understanding of the variability in the ratios of COS to CO(2) and H(2)O deposition velocities and the controlling factors, and to develop operational methods for disentangling ecosystem COS exchange into contributions by leaves and other sources/sinks. To this end, integrated studies, which concurrently quantify the ecosystem-scale CO(2), H(2)O and COS exchange and the corresponding component fluxes, are urgently needed.
Plant Cell and Environment 04/2012; 35(4):657-67. · 5.22 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Mechanical wounding of plants triggers the release of a blend of reactive biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs). During and after mowing and harvesting of managed grasslands, significant BVOC emissions have the potential to alter the physical and chemical properties of the atmosphere and lead to ozone and aerosol formation with consequences for regional air quality. We show that the amount and composition of BVOCs emitted per unit dry weight of plant material is comparable between laboratory enclosure measurements of artificially severed grassland plant species and in situ ecosystem-scale flux measurements above a temperate mountain grassland during and after periodic mowing and harvesting. The investigated grassland ecosystem emitted annually up to 130 mg carbon m(-2) in response to cutting and drying, the largest part being consistently represented by methanol and a blend of green leaf volatiles (GLV). In addition, we report the plant species-specific emission of furfural, terpenoid-like compounds (e.g., camphor), and sesquiterpenes from cut plant material, which may be used as tracers for the presence of given plant species in the ecosystem.
Environmental Science & Technology 03/2012; 46(7):3859-65. · 4.80 Impact Factor
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Kolby J. Jardine,
Russell K. Monson,
Leif Abrell,
Scott R. Saleska,
Almut Arneth,
Angela Jardine,
Françoise Yoko Ishida,
Ana Maria Yanez Serrano,
Paulo Artaxo,
Thomas Karl,
Silvano Fares,
Allen Goldstein, Francesco Loreto,
Travis Huxman
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ABSTRACT: Isoprene is emitted from many terrestrial plants at high rates, accounting for an estimated 1/3 of annual global volatile organic compound emissions from all anthropogenic and biogenic sources combined. Through rapid photooxidation reactions in the atmosphere, isoprene is converted to a variety of oxidized hydrocarbons, providing higher order reactants for the production of organic nitrates and tropospheric ozone, reducing the availability of oxidants for the breakdown of radiatively active trace gases such as methane, and potentially producing hygroscopic particles that act as effective cloud condensation nuclei. However, the functional basis for plant production of isoprene remains elusive. It has been hypothesized that in the cell isoprene mitigates oxidative damage during the stress-induced accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but the products of isoprene-ROS reactions in plants have not been detected. Using pyruvate-2-13C leaf and branch feeding and individual branch and whole mesocosm flux studies, we present evidence that isoprene (i) is oxidized to methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein (iox) in leaves and that iox/i emission ratios increase with temperature, possibly due to an increase in ROS production under high temperature and light stress. In a primary rainforest in Amazonia, we inferred significant in plant isoprene oxidation (despite the strong masking effect of simultaneous atmospheric oxidation), from its influence on the vertical distribution of iox uptake fluxes, which were shifted to low isoprene emitting regions of the canopy. These observations suggest that carbon investment in isoprene production is larger than that inferred from emissions alone and that models of tropospheric chemistry and biota–chemistry–climate interactions should incorporate isoprene oxidation within both the biosphere and the atmosphere with potential implications for better understanding both the oxidizing power of the troposphere and forest response to climate change.
Global Change Biology 02/2012; 18(3):973 - 984. · 6.86 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Isoprene is emitted by a significant fraction of the world's vegetation. Isoprene makes leaves more thermotolerant, yet we do not fully understand how. We have recently shown that isoprene stabilizes thylakoid membranes under heat stress. Here we show that heat-stressed, isoprene-emitting transgenic Arabidopsis plants also produce a lower pool of reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species, and that this was especially due to a lower accumulation of H2O2 in isoprene emitting plants. It remains difficult to disentangle whether in heat stressed plants isoprene also directly reacts with and quenches reactive oxygen species (ROS), or reduces ROS formation by stabilizing thylakoids. We present considerations that make the latter a more likely mechanism, under our experimental circumstances.
Plant signaling & behavior 01/2012; 7(1):139-41.
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ABSTRACT: Most of the perennial plant species, particularly trees, emit volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) such as isoprene and monoterpenes, which in several cases have been demonstrated to protect against thermal shock and more generally against oxidative stress. In this paper, we show the response of three strong isoprene emitter species, namely, Phragmites australis, Populus x euramericana, and Salix phylicifolia exposed to artificial or natural warming of the root system in different conditions. This aspect has not been investigated so far while it is well known that warming the air around a plant stimulates considerably isoprene emission, as also shown in this paper. In the green house experiments where the warming corresponded with high stress conditions, as confirmed by higher activities of the main antioxidant enzymes, we found that isoprene uncoupled from photosynthesis at a certain stage of the warming treatment and that even when photosynthesis approached to zero isoprene emission was still ongoing. In the field experiment, in a typical cold-limited environment, warming did not affect isoprene emission whereas it increased significantly CO₂ assimilation. Our findings suggest that the increase of isoprene could be a good marker of heat stress, whereas the decrease of isoprene a good marker of accelerated foliar senescence, two hypotheses that should be better investigated in the future.
TheScientificWorldJOURNAL 01/2012; 2012:525827. · 1.66 Impact Factor
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Isacco Beritognolo,
Antoine Harfouche,
Federico Brilli,
Gianluca Prosperini,
Muriel Gaudet,
Mikael Brosché,
Francesco Salani,
Elena Kuzminsky,
Petri Auvinen,
Lars Paulin,
Jaakko Kangasjärvi, Francesco Loreto,
Riccardo Valentini,
Giuseppe Scarascia Mugnozza,
Maurizio Sabatti
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ABSTRACT: Soil salinity is an important limiting factor to tree growth and productivity. Populus alba L. is a moderately salt-tolerant species and its natural populations are adapted to contrasting environments, thus providing genetic resources to identify key genes for tolerance to abiotic stress, such as salinity. To elucidate the molecular and genetic basis of variation for salinity tolerance in P. alba, we analyzed the short-term ecophysiological and transcriptome response to salinity. Two contrasting genotypes, 6K3, salt sensitive, and 14P11, salt tolerant, originating from North and South Italy, respectively, were challenged with salt stress (200 mM NaCl). Sodium accumulated in the leaves of salt-treated plants and its concentration increased with time. The net photosynthesis was strongly reduced by salinity in both genotypes, with 6K3 being significantly more affected than 14P11. The transcriptional changes in leaves were analyzed using cDNA microarrays containing about 7000 stress-related poplar expressed sequence tags (EST). A microarray experiment based on RNA pooling showed a number of salinity--regulated transcripts that markedly increased from 3 h to 3 days of salinity treatment. Thus, a detailed analysis was performed on replicated plants collected at 3 days, when ~20% of transcripts showed significant change induced by salinity. In 6K3, there were more genes with decreased expression than genes with increased expression, whereas such a difference was not found in 14P11. Most transcripts with decreased expression were shared between the two genotypes, whereas transcripts with increased expression were mostly regulated in a genotype-specific manner. The commonly decreased transcripts (71 genes) were functionally related to carbohydrate metabolism, energy metabolism and photosynthesis. These biological processes were consistent with the strong inhibition of photosynthesis, caused by salinity. The commonly increased transcripts (13 genes) were functionally related to primary metabolism and biosynthesis of proteins and macromolecules. The salinity-increased transcripts discriminated the molecular response of the two genotypes. In 14P11, the 21 genes specifically salinity-induced were related to stress response, cell development, cell death and catabolism. In 6K3, the 15 genes with salinity-increased expression were involved in protein biosynthesis, metabolism of macromolecules and cell organization and biogenesis. The difference in transcriptome response between the two genotypes could address the molecular basis of intra-specific variation of salinity tolerance in P. alba.
Tree Physiology 09/2011; 31(12):1335-55. · 2.88 Impact Factor
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Violeta Velikova,
Zsuzsanna Várkonyi,
Milán Szabó,
Liliana Maslenkova,
Isabel Nogues,
László Kovács,
Violeta Peeva,
Mira Busheva,
Gyozo Garab,
Thomas D Sharkey, Francesco Loreto
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ABSTRACT: Three biophysical approaches were used to get insight into increased thermostability of thylakoid membranes in isoprene-emittingplants.Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants genetically modified to make isoprene and Platanus orientalis leaves, in which isoprene emission was chemically inhibited, were used. First, in the circular dichroism spectrum the transition temperature of the main band at 694 nm was higher in the presence of isoprene, indicating that the heat stability of chiral macrodomains of chloroplast membranes, and specifically the stability of ordered arrays of light-harvesting complex II-photosystem II in the stacked region of the thylakoid grana, was improved in the presence of isoprene. Second, the decay of electrochromic absorbance changes resulting from the electric field component of the proton motive force (ΔA₅₁₅) was evaluated following single-turnover saturating flashes. The decay of ΔA₅₁₅ was faster in the absence of isoprene when leaves of Arabidopsis and Platanus were exposed to high temperature, indicating that isoprene protects the thylakoid membranes against leakiness at elevated temperature. Finally, thermoluminescence measurements revealed that S₂Q(B)⁻ charge recombination was shifted to higher temperature in Arabidopsis and Platanus plants in the presence of isoprene, indicating higher activation energy for S₂Q(B)⁻ redox pair, which enables isoprene-emitting plants to perform efficient primary photochemistry of photosystem II even at higher temperatures. The data provide biophysical evidence that isoprene improves the integrity and functionality of the thylakoid membranes at high temperature. These results contribute to our understanding of isoprene mechanism of action in plant protection against environmental stresses.
Plant physiology 08/2011; 157(2):905-16. · 6.53 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Poplars (Populus sp.) are among the strongest isoprene (Iso)-emitting plants. Ten poplar genotypes belonging to four different species were grown under the same environmental conditions in a common garden experiment, to study the influence of the genetic variability on Iso emission and on the relationship between Iso and photosynthesis. Photosynthesis ranged from 13 to 20 µmol CO(2) m(-2) s(-1) , whereas Iso emission ranged from 18.2 to 45.2 nmol m(-2) s(-1) . There was no clear association between Iso emission and photosynthesis. In most genotypes, photosynthetic capacity developed earlier than Iso emission capacity. The emission of Iso was inversely correlated with the intercellular CO(2) concentration (C(i) ) and positively correlated with instantaneous water use efficiency. It is speculated that, by regulating C(i) , stomatal opening also indirectly controls Iso emission in poplars. A positive linear correlation between the fraction of recently assimilated carbon emitted as Iso and Iso emission rate was found. The slope of this relationship indicated that each nanomole of Iso emitted requires a fixed fraction of photosynthetic carbon regardless of the intra- and interspecific variability in the Populus genus, and of leaf ontogeny. A comparison with data from recent studies showed that the slope of this relationship increases in drought-stressed leaves. However, this might be explained by an increasing contribution of carbon sources for Iso biosynthesis from stored photosynthates. If this is true, then the amount of carbon directly shunted from photosynthesis into Iso is constant in all poplars and is not influenced by abiotic stresses.
Physiologia Plantarum 03/2011; 142(3):297-304. · 3.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The effects of the interaction between high growth temperatures and water stress on gas-exchange properties of Populus nigra saplings were investigated. Water stress was expressed as a function of soil water content (SWC) or fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW). Isoprene emission and photosynthesis (A) did not acclimate in response to elevated temperature, whereas dark (R(n)) and light (R(d)) respiration underwent thermal acclimation. R(d) was ~30% lower than R(n) irrespective of growth temperature and water stress level. Water stress induced a sharp decline, but not a complete inhibition, of both R(n) and R(d). There was no significant effect of high growth temperature on the responses of A, stomatal conductance (g(s)), isoprene emission, R(n) or R(d) to FTSW. High growth temperature resulted in a significant increase in the SWC endpoint. Photosynthesis was limited mainly by CO(2) acquisition in water-stressed plants. Impaired carbon metabolism became apparent only at the FTSW endpoint. Photosynthesis was restored in about a week following rewatering, indicating transient biochemical limitations. The kinetics of isoprene emission in response to FTSW confirmed that water stress uncouples the emission of isoprene from A, isoprene emission being unaffected by decreasing g(s). The different kinetics of A, respiration and isoprene emission in response to the interaction between high temperature and water stress led to rising R(d)/A ratio and amount of carbon lost as isoprene. Since respiration and isoprene sensitivity are much lower than A sensitivity to water stress, temperature interactions with water stress may dominate poplar acclimatory capability and maintenance of carbon homeostasis under climate change scenarios. Furthermore, predicted temperature increases in arid environments may reduce the amount of soil water that can be extracted before plant gas exchange decreases, exacerbating the effects of water stress even if soil water availability is not directly affected.
Tree Physiology 03/2011; 31(3):275-86. · 2.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Proton transfer reaction-time of flight (PTR-TOF) mass spectrometry was used to improve detection of biogenic volatiles organic compounds (BVOCs) induced by leaf wounding and darkening. PTR-TOF measurements unambiguously captured the kinetic of the large emissions of green leaf volatiles (GLVs) and acetaldehyde after wounding and darkening. GLVs emission correlated with the extent of wounding, thus confirming to be an excellent indicator of mechanical damage. Transient emissions of methanol, C5 compounds and isoprene from plant species that do not emit isoprene constitutively were also detected after wounding. In the strong isoprene-emitter Populus alba, light-dependent isoprene emission was sustained and even enhanced for hours after photosynthesis inhibition due to leaf cutting. Thus isoprene emission can uncouple from photosynthesis and may occur even after cutting leaves or branches, e.g., by agricultural practices or because of abiotic and biotic stresses. This observation may have important implications for assessments of isoprene sources and budget in the atmosphere, and consequences for tropospheric chemistry.
PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(5):e20419. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Poplar (Populus nigra) plants were grown hydroponically with 30 and 200 μM Ni (Ni30 and Ni200). Photosynthesis limitations and isoprenoid emissions were investigated in two leaf types (mature and developing). Ni stress significantly decreased photosynthesis, and this effect depended on the leaf Ni content, which was lower in mature than in developing leaves. The main limitations to photosynthesis were attributed to mesophyll conductance and metabolism impairment. In Ni-stressed developing leaves, isoprene emission was significantly stimulated. We attribute such stimulation to the lower chloroplastic [CO2] than in control leaves. However chloroplastic [CO2] did not control isoprene emission in mature leaves. Ni stress induced the emission of cis-β-ocimene in mature leaves, and of linalool in both leaf types. Induced biosynthesis and emission of isoprenoids reveal the onset of antioxidant processes that may also contribute to reduce Ni stress, especially in mature poplar leaves.
Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex: 1987) 11/2010; 159(5):1058-66. · 3.43 Impact Factor
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Katja Behnke,
Andreas Kaiser,
Ina Zimmer,
Nicolas Brüggemann,
Dennis Janz,
Andrea Polle,
Rüdiger Hampp,
Robert Hänsch,
Jennifer Popko,
Philippe Schmitt-Kopplin,
Barbara Ehlting,
Heinz Rennenberg,
Csengele Barta, Francesco Loreto,
Jörg-Peter Schnitzler
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ABSTRACT: In plants, isoprene plays a dual role: (a) as thermo-protective agent proposed to prevent degradation of enzymes/membrane structures involved in photosynthesis, and (b) as reactive molecule reducing abiotic oxidative stress. The present work addresses the question whether suppression of isoprene emission interferes with genome wide transcription rates and metabolite fluxes in grey poplar (Populus x canescens) throughout the growing season. Gene expression and metabolite profiles of isoprene emitting wild type plants and RNAi-mediated non-isoprene emitting poplars were compared by using poplar Affymetrix microarrays and non-targeted FT-ICR-MS (Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry). We observed a transcriptional down-regulation of genes encoding enzymes of phenylpropanoid regulatory and biosynthetic pathways, as well as distinct metabolic down-regulation of condensed tannins and anthocyanins, in non-isoprene emitting genotypes during July, when high temperature and light intensities possibly caused transient drought stress, as indicated by stomatal closure. Under these conditions leaves of non-isoprene emitting plants accumulated hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), a signaling molecule in stress response and negative regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis. The absence of isoprene emission under high temperature and light stress resulted transiently in a new chemo(pheno)type with suppressed production of phenolic compounds. This may compromise inducible defenses and may render non-isoprene emitting poplars more susceptible to environmental stress.
Plant Molecular Biology 09/2010; 74(1-2):61-75. · 4.15 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Although tree nutrition has not been the primary focus of large climate change experiments on trees, we are beginning to understand its links to elevated atmospheric CO₂ and temperature changes. This review focuses on the major nutrients, namely N and P, and deals with the effects of climate change on the processes that alter their cycling and availability. Current knowledge regarding biotic and abiotic agents of weathering, mobilization and immobilization of these elements will be discussed. To date, controlled environment studies have identified possible effects of climate change on tree nutrition. Only some of these findings, however, were verified in ecosystem scale experiments. Moreover, to be able to predict future effects of climate change on tree nutrition at this scale, we need to progress from studying effects of single factors to analysing interactions between factors such as elevated CO₂, temperature or water availability.
Tree Physiology 09/2010; 30(9):1209-20. · 2.88 Impact Factor