Although boron (B) is an element that has long been assumed to be an essential plant micronutrient, this assumption has been recently questioned. Cumulative evidence has demonstrated that the players associated with B uptake and translocation by plant roots include a sophisticated set of proteins used to cope with B levels in the soil solution. Here, we summarize compelling evidence supporting the essential role of B in mediating plant developmental programs. Overall, most plant species studied to date have exhibited specific B transporters with tight genetic coordination in response to B levels in the soil. These transporters can uptake B from the soil, which is a highly uncommon occurrence for toxic elements. Moreover, the current tools available to determine B levels cannot precisely determine B translocation dynamics. We posit that B plays a key role in plant metabolic activities. Its importance in the regulation of development of the root and shoot meristem is associated with plant developmental phase transitions, which are crucial processes in the completion of their life cycle. We provide further evidence that plants need to acquire sufficient amounts of B while protecting themselves from its toxic effects. Thus, the development of in vitro and in vivo approaches is required to accurately determine B levels, and subsequently, to define unambiguously the function of B in terrestrial plants.
Although Selenium (Se) stress is relatively well known for causing growth inhibition, its effects on primary metabolism remain rather unclear. Here, we characterized both the modulation of the expression of specific genes and the metabolic adjustments in Arabidopsis thaliana in response to changes in Se level in the soil. Se treatment culminated with strong inhibition of both shoot and root growth. Notably, growth inhibition in Se-treated plants was associated with an incomplete mobilization of starch during the night. Minor changes in amino acids levels were observed in shoots and roots of plants treated with Se whereas the pool size of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates in root was not altered in response to Se. By contrast, decreased levels of organic acids involved in the first part of the TCA cycle were observed in shoots of Se-treated plants. Furthermore, decreased expression levels of expansins and endotransglucosylases/endohydrolases (XHTs) genes were observed after Se treatment, coupled with a significant decrease in the levels of essential elements. Collectively, our results revealed an exquisite interaction between energy metabolism and Se-mediated control of growth in Arabidopsis thaliana to coordinate cell wall extension, starch turnover and the levels of a few essential nutrients.
Obtaining a high yield of good quality fruits is one of the main challenges of the tomato crop. The enhancement in plant density promotes a reduction in the fruit fresh mass and an increase the yield per area. On the other hand, commercialization parameters take into account number and fresh mass of fruits. This study aimed at evaluating the yield and fruit quality of indeterminate growth hybrid tomato (Rebeca), cultivated in a hydroponic system, with different planting densities and number of bunches per plant. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions, in a sub-irrigation system containing expanded clay as substrate. A split-plot randomized block design, with three replications, was used. In the plots, four planting densities (11.1 plants m-2, 8.3 plants m-2, 6.6 plants m-2 and 5.5 plants m-2) were allocated and, in the subplots, the number of bunches per plant (one or two). The total yield was influenced by the interaction planting density x number of bunches per plant. The treatment that allowed the highest yield was 11.1 plants m-2 with two bunches, with 22.61 kg m-2 or 226.1 t ha-1, in a crop cycle of 134 days. The observed variations for the nutrient contents of leaves and fruits of tomato plants with one or two bunches, at densities of 5.5-11.1 plants m-2, do not compromise the fruit quality nor influence the production of tradable fruits, using the hydroponic system.
A madeira é o material mais utilizado para embalagens de hortaliças no Brasil, principalmente por conta de seu baixo custo e alta resistência mecânica. Neste trabalho estimou-se a absorção e a perda progressiva de água de ripas de madeira de Pinus utilizadas na montagem de caixas do tipo "K" em três condições de umidade relativa e o crescimento de fungos em sua superfície. Trinta ripas novas de madeira de Pinus (52 x 6 x 0,6 cm) foram pesadas individualmente, imersas em água durante 1 h e pesadas novamente para avaliar a absorção de água. Em outro experimento, dez ripas foram incubadas ao acaso em cada uma das três câmaras úmidas (61%, 86% e 94% UR) mantidas a 25ºC (±2ºC). A perda progressiva de água foi avaliada por pesagens diárias das ripas individualmente e o desenvolvimento de fungos na madeira foi avaliado com uma escala de notas (0-3) durante oito dias. A madeira nova de Pinus pode absorver até 38% de seu peso em água, e permanecer úmida por vários dias de acordo com a condição de armazenamento. A umidade relativa do ambiente afetou a taxa de perda de água diária da madeira, sendo 4,7%, 2,5% e 1,0% respectivamente em 61% UR, 86% UR e 94% UR, e ao final de oito dias alcançou 37,5%, 19,9% e 7,9%, respectivamente. Os fungos predominantes foram Trichoderma harzianum e Rhizopus stolonifer, mas também observou-se crescimento de Aspergillus sp. e Penicillium sp. Para evitar a absorção de água pela madeira de Pinus e a proliferação de fungos em sua superfície, as hortaliças lavadas devem ser secadas ou submeter a madeira a um processo de impermeabilização.
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