A seed's ability to properly germinate largely depends on its oxidative poise. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is controlled by a large gene network, which includes the gene coding for the hydrogen peroxide-scavenging enzyme, cytosolic ASCORBATE PEROXIDASE6 (APX6), yet its specific function has remained unknown. In this study, we show that seeds lacking APX6 accumulate higher levels of ROS, exhibit increased oxidative damage, and display reduced germination on soil under control conditions and that these effects are further exacerbated under osmotic, salt, or heat stress. In addition, ripening APX6-deficient seeds exposed to heat stress displayed reduced germination vigor. This, together with the increased abundance of APX6 during late stages of maturation, indicates that APX6 activity is critical for the maturation-drying phase. Metabolic profiling revealed an altered activity of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, changes in amino acid levels, and elevated metabolism of abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin in drying apx6 mutant seeds. Further germination assays showed an impaired response of the apx6 mutants to ABA and to indole-3-acetic acid. Relative suppression of abscisic acid insensitive3 (ABI3) and ABI5 expression, two of the major ABA signaling downstream components controlling dormancy, suggested that an alternative signaling route inhibiting germination was activated. Thus, our study uncovered a new role for APX6, in protecting mature desiccating and germinating seeds from excessive oxidative damage, and suggested that APX6 modulate the ROS signal cross talk with hormone signals to properly execute the germination program in Arabidopsis.

Leaves of Inula viscosa were collected from the field, dried, and extracted with a mixture of acetone and n-hexane. The oily, water-insoluble pastes obtained after evaporation of the solvents were used for the control of foliar diseases in growth chambers. The pastes, either dissolved in acetone or emulsified in water, effectively controlled downy mildew of cucumber, late blight of potato or tomato, powdery mildew of wheat, and rust of sunflower. Mean effective dose (concentration) required for 90% inhibition of disease values for acetone solutions and water emulsions ranged from 0.68 to 1.02% and 0.65 to 1.00% (wt/vol), respectively. Dry matter content in fresh leaves, paste-extract yield in dry leaves, and disease control efficacy of paste extracts were similar in leaves of I. viscosa collected during May to October, suggesting that, for practical use, harvests can be conducted during most of the growing season. The results show that I. viscosa may be used as an herbal source for fungicidal preparations against foliar diseases caused by pathogens belonging to the families Oomycetes, Ascomycetes, and Basidiomycetes.

The oily paste extracts of Inula viscosa leaves made with organic solvents were effective in controlling downy mildew caused by Plasmopara viticola in detached leaf tissues of grapes in growth chambers. Thin-layer chromatography of such extracts revealed the presence of 11 Rf regions of which four contained highly effective compounds against the disease. Two major inhibitory compounds, each comprising 10.6% of the total paste weight, were identified as tomentosin and costic acid. An emulsified concentrate formulation of the oily paste extracts provided excellent activity against the disease in the field. The effective dose (concentration) required for 90% control of the disease in treated shoots in the field was below 0.125% (paste in water). No seasonal fluctuations were observed in the control efficacy of six extracts made from I. viscosa leaves harvested during the period of May to July. In whole vines, treated and artificially inoculated, the paste concentration required for 90% control of the disease ranged between 0.30 to 0.37%, whereas in naturally infected vines it was 0.58%. It appears that I. viscosa is a valuable source for fungicidal preparations against downy mildew of grapes. This is the first report on the control of a disease with I. viscosa extracts under field conditions.

Colletotrichum coccodes (Wallr.) S. Hughes, the causal agent of black dot on potato and anthracnose on tomato, reduces yield and crop quality. We explored the role of secreted pectate lyase (PL), a cell wall-degrading enzyme, in the aggressiveness of C. coccodes. In vitro-cultivated highly aggressive isolates secreted immunologically detectable PL levels 6 h after transfer to secondary medium versus 12 h for mildly aggressive isolates, suggesting that secreted PL is a virulence factor. The gene encoding PL, CcpelA, was cloned and used for the genetic manipulation of highly (US-41 and Si-72) and mildly (Si-60) aggressive isolates. CcpelA gene-disrupted mutants showed reduced aggressiveness towards tomato fruits and impaired PL secretion and extracellular activity. Conversely, overexpression of CcpelA in the Si-60 isolate increased its aggressiveness and PL secretion. Comparison of CcpelA cloned from isolates US-41 and Si-60 revealed that both encode identical proteins, but differ in their promoters. Bioinformatics analysis for cis-acting elements suggested that the promoters of the US-41 and Si-60 isolates contain one and no AreA-binding site (GATA box), respectively. AreA has been suggested to be involved in fungal aggressiveness; therefore, CcpelA may be a key virulence factor in C. coccodes pathogenicity, and the differences in isolate aggressiveness might result from promoter activity. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed the higher level of CcpelA transcript in isolate US-41 versus Si-60.