Article
Plant Sciences
Brigitte Lukas, Dijana Jovanovic, Corinna Schmiderer, Stefanos Kostas, Angelos Kanellis, Jose Gomez Navarro, Zehra Aytac, Ali Koc, Emel Sozen, Johannes Novak
Summary: Cistus, a genus of white- and purple-flowering shrubs widely distributed in the Mediterranean basin, faces taxonomic uncertainties. Cistus creticus, a prominent member of the purple-flowered clade, integrates two major evolutionary lineages with different genetic characteristics. The Eastern and Western Mediterranean clades exhibit distinct genetic features, with possible hybridization events shaping the genetic complexity of the latter.
Article
Plant Sciences
Brigitte Lukas, Laura Bragagna, Katharina Starzyk, Klaudia Labedz, Klaus Stolze, Johannes Novak
Summary: This study focused on the polyphenolic composition of Cistus creticus and six other Cistus species, finding differences in the chemical profiles which allowed for classification into two chemovariants. Plants with punicalagin derivatives and flavonol glycosides were abundant in the western Mediterranean, while those in Albania and eastwards had a nearly pure flavonol type. C. creticus showed a median antioxidative capacity of about half of the species with the highest antioxidative potential.
Article
Forestry
Amy Verhoeven, Joan Kornkven
Summary: Conifers in temperate forests utilize sustained forms of thermal dissipation during winter to protect the photosynthetic apparatus. The recovery rate from winter stress differs between eastern white pine and white spruce, suggesting different mechanisms for sustained dissipation. Both species rely on two forms of sustained dissipation, one independent of temperature and the other occurring on subzero days. Additionally, spruce shows increased sustained phosphorylation of photosynthetic proteins, possibly allowing for direct energy transfer as a mechanism of photoprotection.
Article
Plant Sciences
Neda Anicic, Efstathia Patelou, Antigoni Papanikolaou, Anthi Kanioura, Camilla Valdesturli, Panagiotis Arapitsas, Marijana Skoric, Milan Dragicevic, Uros Gasic, Athanasios Koukounaras, Stefanos Kostas, Eirini Sarrou, Stefan Martens, Danijela Misic, Angelos Kanellis
Summary: The fruit of Cistus creticus subsp. creticus is a significant source of flavonoids, displaying a decreasing trend in flavonol, flavan-3-ol, and proanthocyanidin content during fruit development. The majority of proanthocyanidins in the fruit are B-type procyanidins and prodelphinidins, with gallocatechin and catechin as dominant flavan-3-ol components. The expression of biosynthetic genes and transcription factors involved in flavonoid metabolism is developmentally regulated, with leucoanthocyanidin reductase playing a key role in flavan-3-ol formation.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Andrew J. Simkin, Leepica Kapoor, C. George Priya Doss, Tanja A. Hofmann, Tracy Lawson, Siva Ramamoorthy
Summary: Photosynthetic pigments, including chlorophyll, carotenoids, and phycobilins, are essential for efficient light absorption and adaptation to different environments in photosynthetic organisms. They play crucial roles in light harvesting, photoprotection, and deep water colonization.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Marijana Skoric, Ana Ciric, Snezana Budimir, Dusica Janosevic, Boban Andelkovic, Marina Todosijevic, Sladana Todorovic, Marina Sokovic, Jasmina Glamoclija, Vele Tesevic, Uros Gasic, Danijela Misic, Angelos K. Kanellis
Summary: Cistus creticus subsp. creticus, a Mediterranean shrub, is traditionally used in folk medicine and contains various secondary metabolites. The trichomes of the plant produce bioactive compounds, including the antibacterial compound ent-3 beta-acetoxy-13-epi-manoyl oxide. This discovery provides a foundation for further research on the antibacterial properties and biosynthesis of this compound.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
A. Walter-McNeill, M. A. Garcia, B. A. Logan, D. M. Bombard, J. S. Reblin, S. Lopez, C. D. Southwick, E. L. Sparrow, D. R. Bowling
Summary: Low winter temperatures can depress rates of photosynthesis in evergreen plants, leading to imbalances between light absorption and photochemical light use. Energy dissipation processes help minimize damage from excess light absorption, with sustained forms of energy dissipation playing a crucial role in overwintering evergreens.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yu Bai, Tianjun Cao, Oliver Dautermann, Paul Buschbeck, Michael B. Cantrell, Yinjuan Chen, Christopher D. Lein, Xiaohuo Shi, Maxwell A. Ware, Fenghua Yang, Huan Zhang, Lihan Zhang, Graham Peers, Xiaobo Li, Martin Lohr
Summary: Fucoxanthin is a major light-harvesting pigment in ecologically important algae. The biosynthetic pathway of fucoxanthin has been identified by studying knockout mutants of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The pathway is more complex than expected and involves the metabolism of diadinoxanthin as a central regulatory hub. The study also reveals the evolution of genes for xanthophyll cycle enzymes and the alternative pathway in brown algae.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Marco A. Molina-Montenegro, Cristian Atala, Fernando Carrasco-Urra
Summary: The study indicated that solar eclipses have a negative impact on the photosynthesis of Chilean tree species, especially for species with lower shade tolerance. Different tree species showed varying responses in photosynthetic performance before and after the eclipse, reflecting distinct patterns of de-epoxidation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Renata Welc, Rafal Luchowski, Dariusz Kluczyk, Monika Zubik-Duda, Wojciech Grudzinski, Magdalena Maksim, Emilia Reszczynska, Karol Sowinski, Radoslaw Mazur, Artur Nosalewicz, Wieslaw I. Gruszecki
Summary: The research conducted with Arabidopsis thaliana revealed the synergistic effect of zeaxanthin and PsbS, showing that PsbS interferes with the formation of densely packed aggregates of thylakoid membrane proteins, thus affecting the incorporation and photophysical properties of xanthophyll cycle pigments. The study highlighted the importance of zeaxanthin in enhancing excitation quenching to protect the system against photo-damage, while violaxanthin led to minimized dissipation of excitation energy within supramolecular structures.
Article
Forestry
Shin-Ichiro Katahata, Maki Katoh, Atsuhiro Iio, Yuzuru Mukai
Summary: The accumulation of rhodoxanthin in Cryptomeria japonica is not directly affected by altitude, but is related to the degree of photoinhibition of the photosynthetic apparatus. The slower recovery of PSII efficiency at higher altitudes may be due to a decrease in PSII reaction centers, rather than solely the retention of A + Z.
JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Beatriz Fernandez-Marin, Thomas Roach, Amy Verhoeven, Jose Ignacio Garcia-Plazaola
Summary: Xanthophyll cycles play a crucial role in photoprotection and are not limited to excess light conditions but also occur under various abiotic stress conditions, including darkness. The dark-induced formation of zeaxanthin enhances stress tolerance in photosynthetic eukaryotes, yet more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and physiological roles of this process.
Article
Plant Sciences
Dimitrij Holzmann, Stephanie Bethmann, Peter Jahns
Summary: Zeaxanthin plays an important role in photoprotection in chloroplasts and its activity is influenced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) might be responsible for the inactivation of ZEP under high-light conditions.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongxing Lu, Ye Tao, Benfeng Yin, Yonggang Li, Colin Tucker, Xiaobing Zhou, Yuanming Zhang
Summary: Dryland ecosystems are often nitrogen-limited, and small nitrogen inputs can have significant effects on nitrogen emissions. This study investigated the impact of increased anthropogenic nitrogen deposition in desert ecosystems during non-growing seasons. Results showed that nitrogen addition significantly affected N2O emissions and increased the abundances of key functional genes for nitrogen cycle. However, the effect on NO emissions was minimal. The composition of biological soil crusts played a crucial role in determining the effects of nitrogen addition on N2O emissions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jochen M. Buck, Peter G. Kroth, Bernard Lepetit
Summary: Photosynthetic organisms have evolved various photoprotective mechanisms to prevent high light-induced photodamage, among which energy-dependent fluorescence quenching (qE) serves as a rapid way to dissipate excess absorbed energy. Diatoms, as important primary producers, utilize Lhcx proteins and the xanthophyll cycle pigment diatoxanthin to provide qE. By studying the mechanisms of qE in diatoms, it was found that specific amino acids and peptide motifs play crucial roles in conferring qE, with a tryptophan residue identified as having a major influence on qE establishment. This structural explanation sheds light on the intimate link between Lhcx proteins and diatoxanthin in providing qE in diatoms.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Spyridon A. Petropoulos, Angela Fernandes, Georgia Ntatsi, Efi Levizou, Lillian Barros, Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2016)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Paraskevi Stathopoulou, Evangelia Tsoumalakou, Efi Levizou, Theofilos Vanikiotis, Stefanos Zaoutsos, Panagiotis Berillis
Summary: The addition of K and Fe slightly improved the biomass of rocket plants per unit area, without impacting the growth and survival of tilapia. There were no severe histological alterations in fish tissues, and the enrichment of K in fish gills did not affect other aspects of fish growth and survival.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Chris Cavalaris, Sofia Megoudi, Maria Maxouri, Konstantinos Anatolitis, Marios Sifakis, Efi Levizou, Aris Kyparissis
Summary: This study developed a modelling approach for wheat yield estimation/prediction using Sentinel-2 data, with a two-step process of establishing vegetation indices as plant signals and water/soil signals, resulting in a model that performed well in predicting yield.
Article
Plant Sciences
Stavros Stagakis, Nikos Markos, Theofilos Vanikiotis, Efi Levizou, Aris Kyparissis
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal fluctuations and climatic controls of two deciduous forest ecosystems dominated by Fagus sylvatica and a mix of Ouercus cerris and Ouercus frainetto. The results showed different ecophysiological responses between the species, with spring temperature promoting growth processes and rising autumn temperature delaying senescence. Precipitation had asymmetric effects on the measured parameters.
Article
Agronomy
Evangelia Tsoumalakou, Eleni Mente, Konstantinos A. Kormas, Nikolaos Katsoulas, Nikolaos Vlahos, Panagiotis Kapsis, Efi Levizou
Summary: This study examines the impact of nutrient deficiencies on plant growth in aquaponics, finding that supplementing with iron and iron combined with potassium can increase lettuce and red tilapia production. The results emphasize the importance of monitoring crop functional responses for sustainable aquaponics.
Article
Horticulture
Evangelia Tsoumalakou, Eleni Mente, Nikolaos Vlahos, Efi Levizou
Summary: The study aims to examine the limitations on spinach growth and functional performance in a closed-loop aquaponics system and identify the minimum nutrient supplementation for their optimization. The results show that iron deficiency is the major bottleneck for spinach cultivation in this system, and only iron supplementation can significantly improve the growth and yield of spinach.
Article
Horticulture
Maria Aslanidou, Angeliki Elvanidi, Anastasia Mourantian, Efi Levizou, Eleni Mente, Nikolaos Katsoulas
Summary: Aquaponics is undergoing a transformation towards larger-scale, plant-centric decoupled systems. Research findings show that while there are significant nutrient deficiencies and imbalances in the fish-centric coupled system, the nutrient use efficiency is higher in the coupled system compared to hydroponic and decoupled systems. The decoupled system exhibits similar water quality and nutrient efficiency as the hydroponic system, but the plants in the decoupled system have superior nutrient use efficiency.
Article
Horticulture
Denisa Avdouli, Johannes F. J. Max, Nikolaos Katsoulas, Efi Levizou
Summary: The study evaluated basil's salinity-tolerance thresholds in a cascade hydroponic system, finding that 5 dS m(-1) was the upper limit of tolerance to stress. Higher salinity levels suppressed growth but significantly increased total amino acid concentration. Basil showed a compromise between reduced fresh produce and increased amino acid content in the system, indicating its potential as a secondary crop in cascade-hydroponics.
Article
Forestry
Efi Levizou, Yiannis Manetas
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2008)
Article
Plant Sciences
E Levizou, P Drilias, GK Psaras, Y Manetas
Article
Agronomy
S Stavrianakou, V Liakoura, E Levizou, P Karageorgou, C Delis, G Liakopoulos, G Karabourniotis, G Manetas, Y Manetas
ALLELOPATHY JOURNAL
(2004)
Article
Plant Sciences
Efi Levizou, Yiannis Manetas
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2007)
Article
Plant Sciences
E Levizou, P Drilias, A Kyparissis
Article
Plant Sciences
E Levizou, Y Petropoulou, Y Manetas