The flow of carbon from photosynthesizing tissues of higher plants, through the roots and into the soil is one of the key processes in terrestrial ecosystems. An increased level of CO in the atmosphere will likely result in an increased input of organic carbon into the soil due to the expected increase in primary production. Whether this will lead to accumulation of greater amounts of organic carbon in soil depends on the flow of carbon through the plant into the soil and its subsequent transformation in the soil by microorganisms. In this paper the major controls of carbon translocation via roots into the soil as well as the subsequent microbial turnover of root-derived carbon are reviewed. We discuss possible consequences of an increased CO level in the atmosphere on these processes.

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BackgroundInduced resistance (IR) can be part of a sustainable plant protection strategy against important plant diseases. β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) can induce resistance in a wide range of plants against several types of pathogens, including potato infected with Phytophthora infestans. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this are unclear and seem to be dependent on the system studied. To elucidate the defence responses activated by BABA in potato, a genome-wide transcript microarray analysis in combination with label-free quantitative proteomics analysis of the apoplast secretome were performed two days after treatment of the leaf canopy with BABA at two concentrations, 1 and 10 mM.ResultsOver 5000 transcripts were differentially expressed and over 90 secretome proteins changed in abundance indicating a massive activation of defence mechanisms with 10 mM BABA, the concentration effective against late blight disease. To aid analysis, we present a more comprehensive functional annotation of the microarray probes and gene models by retrieving information from orthologous gene families across 26 sequenced plant genomes. The new annotation provided GO terms to 8616 previously un-annotated probes.ConclusionsBABA at 10 mM affected several processes related to plant hormones and amino acid metabolism. A major accumulation of PR proteins was also evident, and in the mevalonate pathway, genes involved in sterol biosynthesis were down-regulated, whereas several enzymes involved in the sesquiterpene phytoalexin biosynthesis were up-regulated. Interestingly, abscisic acid (ABA) responsive genes were not as clearly regulated by BABA in potato as previously reported in Arabidopsis. Together these findings provide candidates and markers for improved resistance in potato, one of the most important crops in the world.

Wheat and maize were grown in a growth chamber with the atmospheric CO2 continuously labelled with 14C to study the translocation of assimilated carbon to the rhizosphere. Two different N levels in soil were applied. In maize 26-34% of the net assimilated Iac was translocated below ground, while in wheat higher values (40-58%) were found. However, due to the much higher shoot production in maize the total amount of carbon translocated below ground was similar to that of wheat. At high N relatively more of the C that was translocated to the root, was released into the soil due to increased root respiration and/or root exudation and subsequent microbial utilization and respiration. The evolution rate of unlabelled CO2 from the native soil organic matter decreased after about 25 days when wheat was grown at high N as compared to low N. This negative effect of high N in soil was not observed with maize.

BackgroundPotato late blight caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans can lead to immense yield loss. We investigated the transcriptome of Solanum tubersoum (cv. Desiree) and characterized the secretome by quantitative proteomics after foliar application of the protective agent phosphite. We also studied the distribution of phosphite in planta after application and tested transgenic potato lines with impaired in salicylic and jasmonic acid signaling.ResultsPhosphite had a rapid and transient effect on the transcriptome, with a clear response 3 h after treatment. Strikingly this effect lasted less than 24 h, whereas protection was observed throughout all time points tested. In contrast, 67 secretome proteins predominantly associated with cell-wall processes and defense changed in abundance at 48 h after treatment. Transcripts associated with defense, wounding, and oxidative stress constituted the core of the phosphite response. We also observed changes in primary metabolism and cell wall-related processes. These changes were shown not to be due to phosphate depletion or acidification caused by phosphite treatment. Of the phosphite-regulated transcripts 40% also changed with β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) as an elicitor, while the defence gene PR1 was only up-regulated by BABA. Although phosphite was shown to be distributed in planta to parts not directly exposed to phosphite, no protection in leaves without direct foliar application was observed. Furthermore, the analysis of transgenic potato lines indicated that the phosphite-mediated resistance was independent of the plant hormones salicylic and jasmonic acid.ConclusionsOur study suggests that a rapid phosphite-triggered response is important to confer long-lasting resistance against P. infestans and gives molecular understanding of its successful field applications.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12870-014-0254-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans is one of the most devastating diseases of the potato crop. Resistance breeding and current fungicides are unable to control the rapidly evolving P. infestans and new control strategies are urgently needed. This study examined mechanisms of DL-b-aminobutyric acid (BABA)-induced resistance (IR) in the potato-P. infestans system. Leaves from two cultivars that differ in their degree of resistance, Bintje and Ovatio, were analysed after foliar treatment with BABA. Rapid activation of various defence responses and a significant reduction in P. infestans growth were observed in leaves treated with BABA. In the more resistant cultivar, Ovatio, the activation was both faster and stronger than in Bintje. Microscopic analysis of leaves treated with BABA revealed induction of small hypersensitive response (HR)-like lesions surrounded by callose, as well as production of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Molecular and chemical analyses revealed soluble phenols such as arbutin and chlorogenic acid and activation of PR-1. These results show a direct activation of defence responses in potato, rather than priming as reported for other plant species. They also show that the efficiency of BABA-IR differs between cultivars, which highlights the importance of taking all aspects into consideration when establishing new methods for disease management.

SUMMARYThe natural rate of root cortical death (RCD) in seminal roots was investigated in different cereals by staining the roots with acridine orange. In all cereals investigated the part of the cortex having stainable nuclei gradually decreased with increased age of the root. Wheat differed from barley, oats and rye in having a much faster rate of RCD. In 15-d-old root regions of wheat grown in soil, only 10-20% of the radius of the root had stainable nuclei. In barley, oats and rye the amount of cortex with stainable nuclei varied between 65 and 80 "o. Minor differences in RCD were found between different barley cultivars or accessions. Large variation in RCD was found between different Triticum species: T. monococcum, T. dicoccum and different Aegilops species had much slower RCD than did hexaploid wheat. These results are discussed in relation to microbial colonization of roots and susceptibility to root pathogens.

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