Article
Plant Sciences
Gergana Mihailova, Ivanina Vasileva, Liliana Gigova, Emiliya Gesheva, Lyudmila Simova-Stoilova, Katya Georgieva
Summary: This study assessed the contribution of nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants in the recovery of Haberlea rhodopensis from drought- and freezing-induced desiccation. The results showed that ascorbate and glutathione content remained high during the initial hours of rehydration, indicating their importance in protecting plants from oxidative damage. The activity of antioxidant enzymes increased during the early stages of recovery and certain differences between the two plant groups were observed later during the rehydration process.
Article
Plant Sciences
Aneta Ivanova, Brendan O'Leary, Santiago Signorelli, Denis Falconet, Daniela Moyankova, James Whelan, Dimitar Djilianov, Monika W. Murcha
Summary: This study investigated the mitochondrial activity and biogenesis in Haberlea rhodopensis leaves during fresh, desiccated, and rehydrated states. The researchers found that unlike photosynthesis, mitochondrial respiration in the plant was immediately activated to levels comparable to fresh tissue upon rehydration. The abundance of transcripts and proteins involved in mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis remained consistent across all three states. The study also revealed the presence of alternative respiratory components and high uncoupled respiration capacity in desiccated tissue.
Article
Plant Sciences
Gergana Mihailova, Nikolai K. Christov, Eva Sarvari, Adam Solti, Richard Hembrom, Katalin Solymosi, Aron Keresztes, Maya Velitchkova, Antoaneta Popova, Lyudmila Simova-Stoilova, Elena Todorovska, Katya Georgieva
Summary: Haberlea rhodopensis is a unique desiccation-tolerant angiosperm that survives winter frost. This study reveals the structural alterations and organization of photosynthetic apparatus during recovery after drought- and freezing-induced desiccation, suggesting similar dynamics in remodeling and restoration. The findings also indicate the importance of certain proteins in maintaining cellular integrity and enhancing electron flow.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Petko Mladenov, Diana Zasheva, Sebastien Planchon, Celine C. Leclercq, Denis Falconet, Lucas Moyet, Sabine Brugiere, Daniela Moyankova, Magdalena Tchorbadjieva, Myriam Ferro, Norbert Rolland, Jenny Renaut, Dimitar Djilianov, Xin Deng
Summary: Desiccation-tolerant species provide important models for studying drought tolerance and improving crop resistance to drought. This study used various analytical methods to investigate the response of the resurrection plant H. rhodopensis to desiccation, revealing valuable insights and potential targets for further research on drought tolerance mechanisms and genetic engineering in crops.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Katya Georgieva, Gergana Mihailova, Liliana Gigova, Soleya Dagnon, Lyudmila Simova-Stoilova, Maya Velitchkova
Summary: The study investigated the role of antioxidant defense in cold acclimation and freezing tolerance of the desiccation-tolerant plant Haberlea rhodopensis Friv. Flavonoids and anthocyanin content increased significantly during freezing-induced desiccation, while total polyphenols increased after cold acclimation. Specific isoenzymes of antioxidant enzymes were upregulated, indicating their important role in oxidative stress resistance.
PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Gergana Mihailova, Magdalena Tchorbadjieva, Goritsa Rakleova, Katya Georgieva
Summary: Haberlea rhodopensis, a resurrection plant, is able to lose more than 95% of water in its cells and quickly restore its metabolism upon rehydration. This study investigated the accumulation of small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) in H. rhodopensis under desiccation at different temperatures. It was found that dehydration at high temperature induced the accumulation of 14 different sHSPs, indicating their crucial role in protecting the plant under extreme dehydration at high temperatures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vesselin Baev, Zdravka Ivanova, Galina Yahubyan, Valentina Toneva, Elena Apostolova, Georgi Minkov, Ivan Minkov
Summary: Haberlea rhodopensis, a drought-tolerant resurrection plant, has its mitochondrial genome sequenced and analyzed in this study, providing valuable insights into mitochondrial molecular evolution in plants.
ACTA BIOCHIMICA POLONICA
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Katya Georgieva, Gergana Mihailova, Liliana Gigova, Antoaneta V. V. Popova, Maya Velitchkova, Lyudmila Simova-Stoilova, Mate Sagi-Kazar, Helga Zelenyanszki, Katalin Solymosi, Adam Solti
Summary: The desiccation tolerance of plants requires defense mechanisms that protect macromolecules, biological structures, and metabolism. This study found that both leaves and roots of Haberlea rhodopensis have high levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants and antioxidative enzyme activity during desiccation, indicating the importance of protective compounds and antioxidative defense mechanisms in both tissues.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Diana Zasheva, Petko Mladenov, Krasimir Rusanov, Svetlana Simova, Silvina Zapryanova, Lyudmila Simova-Stoilova, Daniela Moyankova, Dimitar Djilianov
Summary: Breast cancer is a challenging disease and a leading cause of death in women. Current therapy methods often have many side effects, negatively impacting patients' quality of life. To address this, researchers are studying the effects of bioactive compounds from plants as potential cancer treatments.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yousra El-Mejjaouy, Laila Belmrhar, Youssef Zeroual, Benjamin Dumont, Benoit Mercatoris, Abdallah Oukarroum
Summary: Phosphorus deficiency affects crop yield and production through biochemical and morphological changes. By combining chlorophyll a fluorescence and 820 nm modulated reflection signals, a more comprehensive understanding of the photosynthetic process can be achieved, leading to improved accuracy in detecting phosphorus deficiency in wheat leaves.
Article
Plant Sciences
K. Georgieva, A. V. Popova, G. Mihailova, A. G. Ivanov, M. Velitchkova
Summary: It is found that alternative cyclic electron pathways play an important protective role during rehydration of desiccated leaves in Haberlea rhodopensis Friv., with the NDH-dependent pathway being crucial for the recovery of PSI.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elena Kumanova, Gergana Mihailova, Elena Georgieva Todorovska, Katya Georgieva, Stefan Tsonev, Nikolai Kirilov Christov
Summary: Resurrection plants, including Haberlea rhodopensis Friv., have the ability to survive extreme water shortages. However, little is known about the gene expression during recovery after freezing-induced desiccation. This study identified 19 genes that may play a role in the tolerance to low temperature stress and the recovery of H. rhodopensis.
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Wan Xiao, Jingjing Li, Yaxin Zhang, Yanjing Guo, Wanping Fang, Bernal E. Valverde, Juan Yin, Sheng Qiang, Shiguo Chen
Summary: Bioherbicides, such as the Bipolaris bicolor strain SYNJC-2-2, show promising potential for weed control in tea gardens. The strain was effective in controlling various grass weeds and showed selectivity towards crops, especially tea plants. Its infection process and adaptability to environmental variables make it a viable option for bioherbicide development.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Min Tan, Yanxia Fang, Yun Wu, Richard C. Reardon, Sheng Qiang
Article
Ecology
Dongyan Feng, Jiliang Cheng, Xianghong Yang, Zhongsai Tian, Yujing Liu, Yu Zhang, Sheng Qiang
Summary: This study found that polyploidization enhances the effective clonal reproduction of introduced polyploid Solidago canadensis through pre-adaptation and rapid post-adaptation evolution, leading to its successful invasion.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
M. Tan, Y. X. Fang, Y. Wu, R. C. Reardon, S. Qiang
Article
Plant Sciences
Haoquan Wang, Huan Lu, Zixuan Yang, Zixu Zhang, Mengshuo Li, Zheng Zhang, Weimin Dai, Xiaoling Song, Kenneth M. Olsen, Sheng Qiang
Summary: The lodging variation among different Chinese weedy rice strains and between weedy rice and cultivated rice was compared in this study. The results showed that indica-derived weedy rice strains had higher lodging levels in southern China, while japonica-derived strains had lower lodging levels in the north. The more lodging-prone indica weedy rice had lower bending stress and lignin content, and a lower cellulose to lignin ratio compared to co-occurring cultivated rice. DNA methylation of lignin synthesis-related genes affected the expression levels and the cellulose to lignin ratio, thus regulating lodging variation in weedy rice.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jiale Shi, Mengyun Jiang, He Wang, Zhi Luo, Yanjing Guo, Ying Chen, Xiaoxi Zhao, Sheng Qiang, Reto Joerg Strasser, Hazem M. Kalaji, Shiguo Chen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of four mycotoxins, fumagillin, mevastatin, radicicol, and wortmannin, on the photosynthesis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The results showed that these mycotoxins mainly act on photosystem II (PSII) by binding to the secondary quinone electron acceptor (Q(B)) site of the D1 protein, inhibiting electron flow beyond the primary quinone electron acceptor (Q(A)), and affecting photosynthesis. These findings provide new ideas for the design of novel and efficient herbicide molecules.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanjing Guo, Jingjing Li, Jiale Shi, Liru Mi, Jing Zhang, Su Han, Wei Liu, Dan Cheng, Sheng Qiang, Hazem M. Kalaji, Shiguo Chen
Summary: This study revealed the mechanism of root growth inhibition by griseofulvin through comparison with trifluralin. Griseofulvin inhibits root growth by destroying cortical microtubules, inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and affecting the expression of microtubule-associated protein (MAP) genes. These effects lead to cell swelling and death, resulting in root growth inhibition.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Huan Lu, Yingze Liu, Mengshuo Li, Heping Han, Fengyan Zhou, Alex Nyporko, Qin Yu, Sheng Qiang, Stephen Powles
Summary: A wild radish population has developed cross-resistance to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides without previous exposure, thanks to enhanced metabolism. The study identified three highly expressed genes in resistant plants, and overexpression of these genes provided resistance against specific herbicides. The findings suggest that overexpression of multiple herbicide-metabolizing genes contributes to herbicide resistance in the wild radish population.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Qian Yang, Yanjing Guo, He Wang, Zhi Luo, Ying Chen, Mengyun Jiang, Huan Lu, Bernal E. Valverde, Sheng Qiang, Reto Jorg Strasser, Shiguo Chen
Summary: Citrinin, a bioactive compound produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus fungi, has a broad activity spectrum and shows potential as a bioherbicide. It inhibits photosystem II (PSII) reaction centers by blocking electron flow beyond plastoquinone Q(A). Molecular modeling suggests that it binds to the plastoquinone Q(B) site. Additionally, new citrinin derivatives with higher binding affinities were designed.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Mengyao Kong, Xiaotong He, Zhendong Yin, Xianshu Chen, Yujie Zhang, Zhihua Shi, Xiaoling Song, Sheng Qiang, Weimin Dai
Summary: With the scarcity of fresh water resources and the increase in labor prices, rice cultivation is changing from transplanting to direct seeding. Weedy rice, a malignant weed with strong drought tolerance in seed germination in direct-seeding rice fields, can be domesticated into direct-seeding rice with strong drought tolerance by changing a few unfavorable traits. CRISPR/Cas9 technology can accurately edit the function of genes, providing a possibility for the directed evolution. The editing of the Rc gene using CRISPR/Cas9 technology can remove the harmful pericarp character of weedy rice and improve drought tolerance in seed germination.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhongsai Tian, Jiliang Cheng, Jingxuan Xu, Dongyan Feng, Jian Zhong, Xiaoxiao Yuan, Zheng Zhang, Yu Zhang, Zhiyuan Mao, Sheng Qiang
Summary: This study compared the molecular identification, ploidy level, and morphological traits of ten Solidago canadensis populations collected in Europe with populations from other continents and S. altissima populations. The results showed that all European populations were identified as S. canadensis, including diploid and hexaploid populations. Significant differences in morphological traits existed among diploids and polyploids, but differences between polyploids from different introduced ranges and S. altissima were small. The invasive hexaploids and diploids had similar latitudinal distributions in Europe, unlike the distinct climate-niche differentiation seen in Asia. This study provides new insights into the invasive mechanism driven by ploidy.
Article
Agronomy
Min Tan, Yuyao Ding, Graeme W. Bourdot, Sheng Qiang
Summary: Weeds are a major problem in agriculture, causing a significant reduction in crop productivity each year. The overuse of synthetic chemical herbicides has led to the evolution of weed resistance. Bioherbicides have the potential to be an alternative, but they face many challenges in terms of environmental requirements, production, and cost. However, a pathogenic fungus called HXDC-1-2, isolated from a gramineous weed in China, shows promising potential as a bioherbicide by effectively controlling grass weeds without harming crops.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rong Liang, Jia-Li Liu, Xue-Qin Ji, Kenneth M. Olsen, Sheng Qiang, Xiao-Ling Song
Summary: The commercial cultivation of herbicide-resistant transgenic soybeans raises concerns about gene flow. This study found that hybrid descendants of transgenic soybeans and wild soybeans showed increased fitness and competitive ability against weeds under various conditions. They also exhibited changes in seed coat structure and were able to produce a large number of seeds, suggesting potential ecological risks in regions where wild soybean occurs.
Article
Plant Sciences
Huan Lu, Yingze Liu, Dexiao Bu, Fan Yang, Zheng Zhang, Sheng Qiang
Summary: Shepherd's-purse has developed high resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides, mainly due to a double ALS gene mutation.
Article
Biology
Yu Zhang, Zhongsai Tian, Jiaqi Shi, Ruoyu Yu, Shuxin Zhang, Sheng Qiang
Summary: In this study, RNA sequencing was used to compare the phloem and xylem of different populations of S. canadensis, revealing significant changes in secondary cell wall biosynthesis in the invasive population, leading to enhanced aboveground growth.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brandon P. Russell, David J. Vinyard
Summary: The Mn4CaO5 oxygen-evolving complex in Photosystem II is crucial for water oxidation. D1 residue R334 participates in proton release and interacts with PsbO. A D1-R334G mutant destabilizes the OEC but stabilizes the S2 intermediate.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander A. Bulychev, Tatiana S. Strelets
Summary: Excitable cells of higher plants and characean algae respond to stressful stimuli by generating action potentials that influence chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis for an extended period of time. While plant leaves exhibit a reversible depression in the efficiency of photosystem II reaction after an individual action potential, characean algae show long-lasting oscillations of photosystem II reaction efficiency after firing an action potential. This study investigates the possible mechanisms behind these oscillations and suggests that they are a result of metabolic rearrangements in chloroplasts and the cyclosis cessation-recovery cycle induced by calcium influx during action potentials. The findings also indicate that fluidic communications between different cell regions play a role in these oscillations, and the inhibition of oscillations occurs when these communications are restricted or eliminated.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dmitry Zlenko, Elena A. Protasova, Georgy Tsoraev, Nikolai N. Sluchanko, Dmitry A. Cherepanov, Thomas Friedrich, Baosheng Ge, Song Qin, Eugene G. Maksimov, Andrew B. Rubin
Summary: The conformation of chromophores in isolated phycobiliproteins is heterogeneous, but not in the entire phycobilisome (PBS). Under low-energy excitation, there is no significant uphill energy transfer from the core to the peripheral rods of the PBS, while transfer from the terminal emitters to bulk allophycocyanin chromophores is highly probable.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Makio Yokono, Chiyo Noda, Jun Minagawa
Summary: This paper investigates the energy transfer between Photosystem II and Photosystem I in Arabidopsis thaliana, and finds that the fast spillover is reversibly regulated depending on pH.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS
(2024)
