Herein we review the current state-of-the-art of plant hydraulics in the context of plant physiology, ecology, and evolution, focusing on current and future research opportunities. We explain the physics of water tran...Herein we review the current state-of-the-art of plant hydraulics in the context of plant physiology, ecology, and evolution, focusing on current and future research opportunities. We explain the physics of water transport in plants and the limits of this transport system, highlighting the relationships between xylem structure and function. We describe the great variety of techniques existing for evaluating xylem resistance to cavitation. We address several methodological issues and their connec- tion with current debates on conduit refilling and exponentially shaped vulnerability curves. We analyze the trade-offs existing between water transport safety and efficiency. We also stress how little information is available on molecular biology of cavitation and the potential role of aquaporins in conduit refilling. Finally, we draw attention to how plant hydraulic traits can be used for modeling stomatal responses to environmental variables and climate change, including drought mortality.展开更多
During daylight, plants produce excess photo- synthates, including sucrose, which is temporarily stored in the vacuole. At night, plants remobilize sucrose to sustain metabolism and growth. Based on homology to other ...During daylight, plants produce excess photo- synthates, including sucrose, which is temporarily stored in the vacuole. At night, plants remobilize sucrose to sustain metabolism and growth. Based on homology to other sucrose transporter （SUT） proteins, we hypothesized the maize （Zea mays） SUCROSE TRANSPORTER2 （ZmSUT2） protein functions as a sucrose/H^＋ symporter on the vacuolar membrane to export transiently stored sucrose. To understand the biological role of ZmSut2, we examined its spatial and temporal gene expression, determined the protein subcellular localization, and characterized loss-of- function mutations. ZmSut2 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed and exhibited diurnal cycling in transcript abundance. Expressing a translational fusion of ZmSUT2 fused to a red fluorescent protein in maize mesophyll cell protoplasts revealed that the protein localized to the tonoplast. Under field conditions, zmsut2 mutant plants grew slower, possessed smaller tassels and ears, and produced fewer kernels when compared to wild-type siblings, zmsut2 mutants also accumulated two-fold more sucrose, glucose, and fructose as well as starch in source leaves compared to wild type. These findings suggest （i） ZmSUT2 functions to remobilize sucrose out of the vacuole for subsequent use in growing tissues; and （ii） its function provides an important contribution to maize development and agronomic yield.展开更多
The biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis causes corn smut disease, inducing tumor formation in its host Zea mays. Upon infection, the fungal hyphae invaginate the plasma membrane of infected maize ceils, establishing an ...The biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis causes corn smut disease, inducing tumor formation in its host Zea mays. Upon infection, the fungal hyphae invaginate the plasma membrane of infected maize ceils, establishing an interface where pathogen and host are separated only by their plasma membranes. At this interface the fungal and maize sucrose transporters, UmSrtl and ZmSUT1, compete for extracellular sucrose in the corn smut/maize pathos- ystem. Here we biophysically characterized ZmSUT1 and UmSrtl in Xenopus oocytes with respect to their voltage-, pH- and substrate-dependence and determined affinities toward protons and sucrose. In contrast to ZmSUT% UmSrtl has a high affinity for sucrose and is relatively pH- and voltage-independent. Using these quantitative parameters, we developed a mathematical model to simulate the competition for extracellular sucrose at the contact zone between the fungus and the host plant. This approach revealed that UmSrtl exploits the apoplastic sucrose resource, which forces the plant transporter into a sucrose export mode providing the fungus with sugar from the phloem. Importantly, the high sucrose concen- tration in the phloem appeared disadvantageous for the ZmSUT1 preventing sucrose recovery from the apoplastic space in the fungus/plant interface.展开更多
基金provided by National Science Foundation grant IOS-1450560
文摘Herein we review the current state-of-the-art of plant hydraulics in the context of plant physiology, ecology, and evolution, focusing on current and future research opportunities. We explain the physics of water transport in plants and the limits of this transport system, highlighting the relationships between xylem structure and function. We describe the great variety of techniques existing for evaluating xylem resistance to cavitation. We address several methodological issues and their connec- tion with current debates on conduit refilling and exponentially shaped vulnerability curves. We analyze the trade-offs existing between water transport safety and efficiency. We also stress how little information is available on molecular biology of cavitation and the potential role of aquaporins in conduit refilling. Finally, we draw attention to how plant hydraulic traits can be used for modeling stomatal responses to environmental variables and climate change, including drought mortality.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation Plant Genome Research Program, grant no. IOS-1025976 to DMB
文摘During daylight, plants produce excess photo- synthates, including sucrose, which is temporarily stored in the vacuole. At night, plants remobilize sucrose to sustain metabolism and growth. Based on homology to other sucrose transporter （SUT） proteins, we hypothesized the maize （Zea mays） SUCROSE TRANSPORTER2 （ZmSUT2） protein functions as a sucrose/H^＋ symporter on the vacuolar membrane to export transiently stored sucrose. To understand the biological role of ZmSut2, we examined its spatial and temporal gene expression, determined the protein subcellular localization, and characterized loss-of- function mutations. ZmSut2 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed and exhibited diurnal cycling in transcript abundance. Expressing a translational fusion of ZmSUT2 fused to a red fluorescent protein in maize mesophyll cell protoplasts revealed that the protein localized to the tonoplast. Under field conditions, zmsut2 mutant plants grew slower, possessed smaller tassels and ears, and produced fewer kernels when compared to wild-type siblings, zmsut2 mutants also accumulated two-fold more sucrose, glucose, and fructose as well as starch in source leaves compared to wild type. These findings suggest （i） ZmSUT2 functions to remobilize sucrose out of the vacuole for subsequent use in growing tissues; and （ii） its function provides an important contribution to maize development and agronomic yield.
基金supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the Grant GE2195/1-1supported by grants from the King Saud Universitysupported by the FONDECYT grant N 1150054 from the Comisión Nacional Científicay Tecnológica of Chile
文摘The biotrophic fungus Ustilago maydis causes corn smut disease, inducing tumor formation in its host Zea mays. Upon infection, the fungal hyphae invaginate the plasma membrane of infected maize ceils, establishing an interface where pathogen and host are separated only by their plasma membranes. At this interface the fungal and maize sucrose transporters, UmSrtl and ZmSUT1, compete for extracellular sucrose in the corn smut/maize pathos- ystem. Here we biophysically characterized ZmSUT1 and UmSrtl in Xenopus oocytes with respect to their voltage-, pH- and substrate-dependence and determined affinities toward protons and sucrose. In contrast to ZmSUT% UmSrtl has a high affinity for sucrose and is relatively pH- and voltage-independent. Using these quantitative parameters, we developed a mathematical model to simulate the competition for extracellular sucrose at the contact zone between the fungus and the host plant. This approach revealed that UmSrtl exploits the apoplastic sucrose resource, which forces the plant transporter into a sucrose export mode providing the fungus with sugar from the phloem. Importantly, the high sucrose concen- tration in the phloem appeared disadvantageous for the ZmSUT1 preventing sucrose recovery from the apoplastic space in the fungus/plant interface.
