The plasmodesmata-associated β-1,3-glucanase gene GhPdBG regulates fiber development in cotton

Trichomes are specialized structures that originate from epidermal cells of organs in higher plants.The cotton fiber is a unique single-celled trichome that elongates from the seed coat epidermis.Cotton(Gossypium hirsutum)fibers and trichomes are models for cell differentiation.In an attempt to elucidate the intercellular factors that regulate fiber and trichome cell development,we identified a plasmodesmal β-1,3-glucanase gene(designated GhPdBG)controlling the opening and closing of plasmodesmata in cotton fibers.Structural and evolutionary analysis showed haplotypic variation in the promoter region of the GhPdBG gene among 352 cotton accessions,but high conservation in the coding region.GhPdBG was expressed predominantly in cotton fibers and localized to plasmodesmata(PD).Expression patterns of PdBG that corresponded to PD permeability were apparent during fiber development in G.hirsutum and G.barbadense.The PdBG-mediated opening-closure of PD appears to be involved in fiber development and may account for the contrasting fiber traits of these two species.Ectopic expression of GhPdBG revealed that it functions in regulating fiber and trichome length and/or density by modulating plasmodesmatal permeability.This finding suggests that plasmodesmal targeting of GhPdBG,as a switch of intercellular channels,regulates single-celled fiber and trichome development in cotton.

Cloning and Expression of Extremely Heat-Resistant Endo-β-1,4-Glucanase Gene from Thermotoga maritima in Bacillus subtilis

Gene encoding endo-β-1,4-glucanase(TM1525)is derived from Thermotoga maritima(T.maritima),which has an open reading frame of 825 bp and encodes a 274 amino acid endo-β-1,4-glucanase.This enzyme has the same high temperature resistance as thermophilic bacteria,which is an ideal property for industrial applications.By molecular biological means,TM1525 was cloned into pHT43 vector and introduced into Bacillus subtilis(B.subtilis)WB800N by electroporation.The results showed that the WB800N expression system was successfully constructed,and extracellular expression of the recombinant gene was achieved.Cellulose hydrolyzed activity of the protein was exhibited.

ZmGns,a maize class I β-1,3-glucanase,is induced by biotic stresses and possesses strong antimicrobial activity

Plant b-1,3-glucanases are members of the pathogenesis-related protein 2（PR-2） family,which is one of the 17 PR protein families and plays important roles in biotic and abiotic stress responses.One of the differentially expressed proteins（spot 842） identified in a recent proteomic comparison between five pairs of closely related maize（Zea mays L.） lines differing in aflatoxin resistance was further investigated in the present study.Here,the corresponding cDNA was cloned from maize and designated as ZmGns.ZmGns encodes a protein of338 amino acids containing a potential signal peptide.The expression of Zm Gns was detectible in all tissues studied with the highest level in silks.ZmGns was significantly induced by biotic stresses including three bacteria and the fungus Aspergillus flavus.ZmGns was also induced by most abiotic stresses tested and growth hormones including salicylic acid.In vivo,ZmGns showed a significant inhibitory activity against thebacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv.tomato DC3000 and fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea when it overexpressed in Arabidopsis.Its high level of expression in the silk tissue and its induced expression by phytohormone treatment,as well as by bacterial and fungal infections,suggest it plays a complex role in maize growth,development,and defense.

Purification and Some Properties of Endo-1,4-β-Glucanases of Trichoderma harzianum UzCF-28

This work aimed at isolation, purification and study of biochemical features of cellulolytic enzymes synthesized by Trichoderma harzianum UzCF-28 strain. Strain UzCF-28 revealed a high cellulolytic activity during submerged cultivation in the liquid culture on modified Mandels nutrient medium, where wheat straw was used as a source of carbon. As a result of purification by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and further ion exchange chromatography, two isoforms of endo- 1,4-β-glucanase-EG II and EG III with molecular weight of 135 and 75 kDa respectively were revealed. The pH optimum for EG I and EG III was 4.5, while for EG II—4.7, irrespective of the applied substrates—either CMC or “Whatman filter” paper. Heating up to 40°C of EG III did not lead to its inactivation, and on the contrary, its activity increased by more than three times comparing to the initial activity of the enzyme, i.e. thermostability of EG III among tested enzymes significantly varied.

Changes in Protein Content and Chitinase and β-1,3- glucanase Activities of Rice with Blast Resistance Induced by Ag-antibiotic 702

[Objective] The paper was to explore the effect of rice blast resistance induced by Ag-antibiotics 702 on protein content and chitlnase and β-1,3-glucanase activities in rice. [ Method] At the fourth leaf stage of Luliangyou 996, 15 μg/mL Ag-antibiotic 702 was sprayed, while Validamycin and distilled wa- ter were sprayed as positive control and negative control, respectively. All treatments were inoculated with spore fluid of Magnaporthe grisea at 48 h post spraying, and the rice inoculated with only distilled water was used as blank control. The enzymes activities （endochitinase, exochitinase and β-1,3-glucanase） and total pro- tein content in rice leaves were determined every 24 h within 168 h post spraying. [ Result] Compared with the blank control, the rice inoculated with spore fluid of M. grisea could significantly increase the total protein content and the activities of β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase. The induction effect of Ag-antibiotics 702 exceeded that of Validamycin treatment. And the changes in activities of β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase had obvious synchronicity. [ Conclusion] Ag-antibiotic 702 can significantly improve the total protein content and the activities of β-1,3-glucanase and chitinase, thus enhancing the resistance to rice blast.

Induction of Volatile Organic Compounds in Leaves of Lycopersicon Esculentum by Nd^(3+)

The effects of Nd^3＋ on the quality and quantity of volatile organic compounds （VOCs） in the leaves of Lycopersicon esculentum were studied. The results demonstrate that Nd^3＋ can increase the total amount of VOC by 75% after treatment for 120 h, as compared with the control. Phyto-oxylipins, terpenoids and aromatic compounds were increased by 73%, 38% and 21%, respectively. （E）-2-hexenal, the most abundant constituent is increased by 74%, β- phellandrene and α-caryophyllene in terpenoids,

Antifungal Potential of Beauveria bassiana on Solanum lycopersicum L. Infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of Beauveria bassiana(Bb 1205)on controlling Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.lycopersici(Fol 17108)in tomato plants in greenhouse conditions.Inoculation of Bb 1205 was the most promising among the agronomic variables and expression of the activity of the enzymesβ-1,3-glucanases and chitinases.Inoculation of Bb 1205 occurred at a concentration of 1×108 conidia·mL−1,which was administered onto the leaves,directly into the soil and via injection.Infection with Fol 17108 occurred with 1×106 spores·mL−1,which were added directly to the soil.Spectrophotometry was used for measuring agronomic parameters,namely activity of chitinases andβ-1,3-glucanases in foliage and roots.When Bb 1205 was added to the soil,the chlorophyll index and aerial part length showed significant differences.In addition,it was determined that root length,fresh weight of foliage,flower,and fruit count increased 82 days after inoculation(dai).Chitinase activity induced by Bb 1205 in leaves and roots of tomato plants infected with Fol 17108 was observed when injected into the stem at 32 dai(41.8 and 11.6-fold,respectively).Inoculation on the foliage showed a 10-fold increase ofβ-1,3-glucanases in the roots after 82 dpi.As for leaves,a 3.8-fold increase was found when the stem was inoculated.In the different in vivo applications,Bb 1205 activated its defenses by expressing the chitinase enzymes andβ-1,3-glucanase,thus reducing the damage caused by Fol 17108,demonstrating increase plant growth thereafter.

Stem Blight Control of Schizonepeta tenuifolia Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae Using Trichoderma spp.

Objective To control stem blight disease of Schizonepeta tenuifolia caused by Phytophthora nicotianae. Methods The antagonist effect of 13 Trichoderma strains (including T. viride and T. harzianum) was evaluated upon mycelia growth of P. nicotianae. Trichoderma strains with high antagonistic activities against the pathogen were used to control stem blight of S. tenuifolia in the field. Results Of 13 Trichoderma strains tested, T. viride strain M3 showed maximum mycelia growth inhibition (83.2%) to the pathogen, followed by T. viride strain Tv04-2 (78.2%) and then T. harzianum strain ThB (65.0%), in vitro. Fungal cell wall degrading enzymes, protease, and β-1,3-glucanase were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in further study. T. viride strains M3, Tv04-2, and T. harzianum strain ThB efficiently against P. nicotianae were used to control stem blight of S. tenuifolia in the field, and T. viride strain M3 showed the best biocontrol potential. Conclusion Trichoderma spp. can be used as alternatives of pesticides to control stem blight, one of the serious soilborne diseases of S. tenuifolia caused by P. nicotianae. However, though T. viride strains Tv04-2 and T. harzianum strain ThB are also highly against P. nicotianae in vitro, the controlling efficacy of them on stem blight disease is not as excellent as T. viride strains M3 in the field.

Xyloglucans of Monocotyledons Have Diverse Structures

Except in the Poaceae, little is known about the structures of the xyloglucans in the primary walls of monocotyledons. Xyloglucan structures in a range of monocotyledon species were examined. Wall preparations were isolated, extracted with 6 M sodium hydroxide, and the extracts treated with a xyloglucan-specific endo-（1→4）-β-glucanase preparation. The oligosaccharides released were analyzed by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography and by matrix-assisted laser-desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Oligosaccharide profiles of the non-commelinid monocotyledons were similar to those of most eudicotyledons, indicating the xyloglucans were fucogalactoxyloglucans, with a XXXG a core motif and the fucosylated units XXFG and XLFG. An exception was Lemna minor （Araceae）, which yielded no fucosylated oligosaccharides and had both XXXG and XXGn core motifs. Except for the Arecales （palms） and the Dasypogonaceae, which had fucogalactoxyloglucans, the xyloglucans of the commelinid monocotyledons were structurally different. The Zingiberales and Commelinales had xyloglucans with both XXGn and XXXG core motifs; small proportions of XXFG units, but no XLFG units, were present. In the Poales, the Poaceae had xyloglucans with a XXGn core motif and no fucosylated units. In the other Poales families, some had both XXXG and XXGn core motifs, others had only XXXG; XXFG units were present, but XLFG units were not.