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BACKGROUND:Tef (Eragrostis tef), an indigenous cereal critical to food security in the Horn of Africa, is rich in minerals and protein, resistant to many biotic and abiotic stresses and safe for diabetics as well as sufferers of immune reactions to wheat gluten. We present the genome of tef, the first species in the grass subfamily Chloridoideae and the first allotetraploid assembled de novo. We sequenced the tef genome for marker-assisted breeding, to shed light on the molecular mechanisms conferring tef's desirable nutritional and agronomic properties, and to make its genome publicly available as a community resource.RESULTS:The draft genome contains 672 Mbp representing 87% of the genome size estimated from flow cytometry. We also sequenced two transcriptomes, one from a normalized RNA library and another from unnormalized RNASeq data. The normalized RNA library revealed around 38000 transcripts that were then annotated by the SwissProt group. The CoGe comparative genomics platform was used to compare the tef genome to other genomes, notably sorghum. Scaffolds comprising approximately half of the genome size were ordered by syntenic alignment to sorghum producing tef pseudo-chromosomes, which were sorted into A and B genomes as well as compared to the genetic map of tef. The draft genome was used to identify novel SSR markers, investigate target genes for abiotic stress resistance studies, and understand the evolution of the prolamin family of proteins that are responsible for the immune response to gluten.CONCLUSIONS:It is highly plausible that breeding targets previously identified in other cereal crops will also be valuable breeding targets in tef. The draft genome and transcriptome will be of great use for identifying these targets for genetic improvement of this orphan crop that is vital for feeding 50 million people in the Horn of Africa.

12 pp. / plant disease bulletins; July 2006 original publishing date, rev. 10/08 / Cacti, agaves and yuccas are classified as succulents, plants that have highly specialized anatomical features such as thick waxy cuticles, fleshy or minimal leaves, modified leaves (spines), and roots with extra storage capabilities for food and water. These modifications allow them to survive and thrive in harsh desert environments. They survive long periods of drought in areas of sparse rainfall and intense heat. During stressful periods, many succulents cease to grow, drop unnecessary leaves, dehydrate and become dormant until conditions for growth return. Despite their adaptations, succulents suffer from diseases, insect pests and cultural problems. Some of the more common problems that occur in cacti, agave and yuccas in Arizona are discussed in this bulletin.

The use of nanoscale materials is growing exponentially, but there are also concerns about the environmental hazard to aquatic biota. Metal-containing engineered nanoparticles (NPs) are an important group of these new materials, and whilst there are undoubtedly a plethora of beneficial uses for these NPs, it is essential that an appropriate risk assessment is carried out in order to protect the environment and human health, with the consumption of contaminated fish a distinct possibility. The current study aimed to assess the bioavailability, uptake and toxicological effects of two metal-NPs (TiO2 NPs and Cu-NPs) to fish from both dietary and waterborne exposure routes and where appropriate compare them to their bulk counterpart. Whole body system effects were assessed along with the influences of the life stage of exposed fish and abiotic factors on toxicity. A technique to improve the quantification of Ti from TiO2 NPs in fish tissue was also developed. Effects from exposure to dietary TiO2 NPs manifested similarly to traditional dietary metal exposure, with no reduction in growth, but some sublethal affects. Exposure to waterborne Cu-NPs showed that rainbow trout were more acutely sensitive to CuSO4 than the NPs, but that despite limited uptake several body systems were affected (most notably ionoregulation). Larvae were more sensitive to CuSO4 than Cu-NPs, but no differences were seen with embryos, whilst larvae were more sensitive than embryos. Abiotic factors did have an effect on acute Cu-NP toxicity, though not always in a predictable manner, with some effects more pronounced than with CuSO4. Overall, it appears that metal-NPs are not as acutely toxic as their bulk counterparts, but sublethal effects, were routinely observed. As TiO2 NPs appear more toxic than its bulk counterpart, current legislation governing safe environmental limits may have to be adjusted, though the situation with Cu-NPs isn’t as clear and further investigation is required. However, the risk of human exposure via the consumption of NP contaminated fish fillets is extremely low.

Dehydrins are intrinsically disordered plant stress-proteins. Repetitively in their sequence are some highly conserved stretches of 7-17 residues, the so called K-, S-, Y- and lysine rich segments. This thesis aims to give insight into the possible role dehydrins have in the stressed plant cell with main focus on membrane interaction and protection. The work includes four recombinant dehydrins from the plant Arabidopsis thaliana: Cor47 (SK3), Lti29 (SK3), Lti30 (K6) and Rab18 (Y2SK2). Initially, we mimicked crowded cellular environment in vitro to verify that dehydrins are truly disordered proteins. Thereafter, the proposal that the compulsory K-segment determines membrane binding was tested. Experiments show that only Lti30 and Rab18 bind, whereas Cor47 and Lti29 does not. As Lti30 and Rab18 binds they assembles vesicles into clusters in vitro, a feature used to characterize the interaction. From this it was shown that membrane binding of Lti30 is electrostatic and determined by global as well as local charges. Protonation of histidine pairs flanking the K-segments works as an on/off-binding switch. By NMR studies it was shown that the K-segments form a dynamic α-helix upon binding, so called disorder-to-order behaviour. Also, dehydrins electrostatic interaction with lipids can be further tuned by posttranslational phosphorylation or coordination of calcium and zinc ions. Finally, specific binding of Rab18 to inositol lipids, mainly PI(4,5)P2, is reported. The interaction is mainly coordinated by two arginines neighboring one of the K-segments. In conclusion, the K-segments are indeed involved in the binding of dehydrins to membrane but only in combination with extensions (Lti30) or modified (Rab18). / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript. Paper 5: Manuscript.</p>

Milk thistle, Silybum marianum L. Gaertn., is a source of flavonoid taxifolin and flavonolignans - silymarin complex (silybin, silydianin, silycristin and isosilybin). Milk thistle is usually obtained by field cultivation. Alternative way for getting the active components, is the use of in vitro cultures. But the production of secondary metabolites by the in vitro cultures is low in comparison with plant. One of the possibilites how to increase this produciton is the method of elicitation. In this study, ethephon as the elicitor, in the concentrations of 500 µmol/l, 400 µmol/l, 200 µmol/l, 100 µmol/l and 50 µmol/l was used with the aim to increase secondary metabolite production in suspension and callus cultures. The effect of ethephon was compared to its inhibitor (AgNO3, 120 µmol/l). The levels of flavonolignans and taxifolin were measured by the method of HPLC. The samples were taken 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 hours after the ethephon application and inhibitor treatment. The nutrient medium of suspension culture was also tested for the possibity of secondary metabolites releasing into medium. The highest content of flavonoid taxifolin was found in the suspension culture medium after 48 h treatment with ethephon in conc. of 400 µmol/l. The level of taxifolin was increased by 197-fold to 1,97 mg/100...

Medicinal plant cultures in vitro - XVI The subject of this diploma thesis is the evaluation of secondary metabolites production in Silybum marianum, (L.) Gaertn. cultures in vitro after elicitor treatment. The aim of the study was to find if an abiotic elicitor 5-tert-butyl-N-(4- chlorbenzyl)pyrazine-2-carboxamide increases the flavonolignan production Silybum marianum cultures in vitro. Experiment was carried out in callus and suspension cultures of Silybum marianum using Murashige - Skoog nutrient medium supplemented with 10 mg/l α-naphthylacetic acid. The elicitor was added in the form of solution in three different concentrations (C1 = 3. 292.10-3 mol/l, C2 = 3. 292.10-4 mol/l and C3 = 3. 292.10-5 mol/l) and it was affecting 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours. The content of flavonolignans was determined by HPLC. The maximum flavonolignan production (0. 280 mg.g-1 DW) in callus culture was observed after 24 hours of elicitor application in concentration of C2 = 3. 292.10-4 mol/l, when the highest content of silychristin was detected. The second significant increase in flavonolignan production (0. 271 mg.g-1 DW) in callus culture was noticeable after 12 hours of elicitor treatment in concentration of C3 = 3. 292.10-5 mol/l, when the highest increase in silydianin and silybin B accumulation was found. The...

Genista tinctoria, family Fabaceae, is a potent source of isoflavonoids (genistin, genistein, daidzein, formononetin, biochanin A) with a wide spectrum of potential medical impact. Genista also contains quinolizidin alkaloids (cytisin, anagyrin, lupanin, spartein, etc.), which are toxic. The reason why in vitro cultures are used is an absence of toxic alkaloids production and higher yield of isoflavonoids in comparison with intact plant. For an increase of isoflavonoid production method of elicitation is beeing used. Isoflavonoids are studied for their phytoestrogenic effects, for which they could be used in treatment of postmenopausal symptoms and even in treatment of hormon-dependent tumours. The elicitor ethephon in concentration of 7000 µM, 700 µM and 70 µM was used in this work. The effect of ethephon inhibitor (AgNO3) in concentration of 120 µM was investigated too. Samples were examined after 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 hours and then analysed by HPLC method. An effect of ethephon and its combination with AgNO3 was observed in callus and suspension cultures. Release of isoflavonoides into culture media was studied too. Daidzein production was the highest of all isoflavonoids in the callus culture after the treatment of ethephon in concentration of 700 µM after 96 hours (45,10 mg/g DW). The most...

Cytokinins (CKs) are one of the most important group of phytohormones influencing many processes throughout the whole plant. As many processes are regulated both by the light and phytohormones, the first part of this work has been focused on evaluation of diurnal rhytmicity in levels of cytokinins and other cooperating hormones like auxin (indol-3-acetic acid, IAA), abscisic acid (ABA) and polyamines (PA). The changes in activity of selected enzymes participating in metabolism of the above mentioned phytohormones were followed as well. Diurnal variation of phytohormones was tested in tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Wisconsin 38) grown under a 16/8 h (light/dark) period. The main peak of the physiologically active forms of CKs, found after the middle of the light period, coincided well with the maximum of IAA and PA levels and with activity of the corresponding enzymes. The achieved data indicate that metabolism of CKs, IAA and PAs is tightly regulated by the circadian clock. The other part of the study has been focused on changes in the contents of CKs, IAA and ABA in transgenic tobacco plants with altered cytokinin metabolism, achieved via the over-expression of particular enzymes participating in CK metabolism (biosynthesis, degradation and reversible conjugation). As CKs are known to be...

The study is aimed to enhance in vitro production of secondary metabolites in Genista tinctoria L. via elicitor treatment. The different levels of elicitor concentration - selenium dioxide were utilized to affect the quantity of isoflavonoids occurred in cultures. Experiment was perfomed in callus and suspension cultures on MS nutrient media supplemented with 10 g l-1 of NAA (α-naphtylacetic acid) as growth regulator. The elicitor was added in the form of solution in concentrations of 9,012.10-3 mol l-1 ; 9,012.10-4 mol l-1 and 9,012.10-5 mol l-1 . It was exposed for 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours. The content of isoflavonoids was determined by HPLC in dry weight (DW) and medium. The most effective production of genistin (6,20 mg. g-1 DW, 8,30 mg. g-1 DW) in callus culture was measured. It was reached in concentrations of 9,012.10-4 mol l-1 and 9,012.10-5 mol l-1 after 168 h elicitor treatment. The second most satisfactory genistin level 5,20 mg g-1 DW was detected after elicitor application in concentration of 9,012.10-4 mol l-1 after 6 h. The content of genistein, daidzein and formononetin in callus culture was low and in the most cases equal zero compared to control samples. The content of biochanin A was equal zero compared to control samples. The most efficient daidzein production (37,10 mg...