bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of lysophospholipids on signaling in the Human jurkat T Cell Line
Authors: Xu Yan , Casey Graham , Mills Gordon B. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractLysophospholipids have recently been demonstrated to induce activation and proliferation of fibroblasts and other cell lineages by interacting with high affinity cell surface receptors leading to specific intracellular signaling events. Platelet activation, likely at the site of injury or inflammation, results in increased production of lysophospholipids suggesting a possible source of lysophospholipids. We have recently demonstrated that high concentrations of lysophospholipids are present in ascites and plasma from ovarian cancer patients, suggesting that physiologically produced lysophospholipids could interact with cells present in these fluids, including lymphocytes, and alter their function. We demonstrate herein that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), lysophosphatidylserine (LPS), and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) activate the Jurkat T cell line. Each of the lysophospholipids induced a transient increase in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) in Jurkat cells. Increases in [Ca2+]i were cross‐desensitized by LPA, LPS and SPC, suggesting that the lysophospholipids share the same receptor(s) or that their downstream signaling pathways converge or interact. Lysophosphatidylgycerol (LPG), a competitive inhibitor of the putative LPA receptor, inhibited the calcium releasing activity of LPA, but not that of LPS and SPC, suggesting that these lysophospholipids interact with different receptors and that desensitization is due to interactions in downstream signaling pathways. The ability of the lysophospholipids to induce increases in [Ca2+]i was attenuated, but not completely blocked, by increases in [Ca2+]i induced by activation of the thrombin receptor. In contrast, increases in [Ca2+]i induced by the lysophospholipids and cross‐linking the CD3 component of the T cell receptor complex with the UCHT1 antibody did not undergo heterologous desensitization. Strikingly, LPA is sufficient to stimulate proliferation of Jurkat cells in serum‐free medium or in synergy with low concentrations of fetal bovine serum. In addition, LPA also increased the production of the T cell growth factor, interleukin 2 (IL‐2), by Jurkat cells treated with phorbol esters. LPS, in contrast, inhibited Jurkat proliferation while increasing IL‐2 production and SPC inhibited both processes. Thus, although all three lysophospholipids were sufficient to induce a transient increase in [Ca2+]i in Jurkat cells, they induced markedly different physiological consequences. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The role of potassium in alleviating detrimental effects of abiotic stresses in plants
Authors: Cakmak Ismail 
Published: July 2005

AbstractPlants exposed to environmental stress factors, such as drought, chilling, high light intensity, heat, and nutrient limitations, suffer from oxidative damage catalyzed by reactive oxygen species (ROS), e.g., superoxide radical (O2–), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (OH). Reactive O2 species are known to be primarily responsible for impairment of cellular function and growth depression under stress conditions. In plants, ROS are predominantly produced during the photosynthetic electron transport and activation of membrane‐bound NAD(P)H oxidases. Increasing evidence suggests that improvement of potassium (K)‐nutritional status of plants can greatly lower the ROS production by reducing activity of NAD(P)H oxidases and maintaining photosynthetic electron transport. Potassium deficiency causes severe reduction in photosynthetic CO2 fixation and impairment in partitioning and utilization of photosynthates. Such disturbances result in excess of photosynthetically produced electrons and thus stimulation of ROS production by intensified transfer of electrons to O2. Recently, it was shown that there is an impressive increase in capacity of bean root cells to oxidize NADPH when exposed to K deficiency. An increase in NADPH oxidation was up to 8‐fold higher in plants with low K supply than in K‐sufficient plants. Accordingly, K deficiency also caused an increase in NADPH‐dependent O2– generation in root cells. The results indicate that increases in ROS production during both photosynthetic electron transport and NADPH‐oxidizing enzyme reactions may be involved in membrane damage and chlorophyll degradation in K‐deficient plants. In good agreement with this suggestion, increases in severity of K deficiency were associated with enhanced activity of enzymes involved in detoxification of H2O2 (ascorbate peroxidase) and utilization of H2O2 in oxidative processes (guaiacol peroxidase). Moreover, K‐deficient plants are highly light‐sensitive and very rapidly become chlorotic and necrotic when exposed to high light intensity. In view of the fact that ROS production by photosynthetic electron transport and NADPH oxidases is especially high when plants are exposed to environmental stress conditions, it seems reasonable to suggest that the improvement of K‐nutritional status of plants might be of great importance for the survival of crop plants under environmental stress conditions, such as drought, chilling, and high light intensity. Several examples are presented here emphasizing the roles of K in alleviating adverse effects of different abiotic stress factors on crop production.
Manganese uptake and Mn efficiency of wheat cultivars are related to Mn‐uptake kinetics and root growth
Authors: Sadana Upkar Singh , Sharma Parmodh , Castañeda Ortiz Nelson , Samal Debasmita , Claassen Norbert 
Published: July 2005

AbstractWheat cultivars differ widely in manganese (Mn) efficiency. To investigate the reasons for different Mn efficiencies, a pot experiment with soil, a solution‐culture experiment, and model calculations were carried out. The pot experiment was conducted with wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cvs. PBW 373, PBW 154, PBW 343, PBW 138, and Triticum durum L. cvs. PBW 34 and PDW 233) grown in a screen house in India. The soil was a loamy sand with pH 8.1, DTPA‐extractable Mn 1.62 mg (kg soil)–1, and initial soil solution Mn concentration (CLi) of 0.19 μM. When fertilized with 50 mg Mn (kg soil)–1, CLi increased to 0.32 μM. At CLi 0.19 μM, wheat cv. PBW 373 produced 74% of its maximum shoot dry weight (SDW) with 64% of its maximum root length (RL), while cv. PDW 233 produced only 25% of its maximum SDW with 11% of its maximum RL. The other wheat cultivars were between these extremes. Manganese deficiency caused a reduction in shoot growth, but more strongly reduced root growth. The low Mn efficiency of T. durum cv. PDW 233 was related to a strong depression of its root growth. Manganese influx was similar for all cultivars. In solution culture below 1 μM Mn, under controlled climate‐chamber conditions, Mn influx was linearly related to Mn concentration. Both the efficient cv. PBW 343 and the inefficient cv. PDW 233 had a similar influx. Uptake kinetic parameters from the solution experiment together with soil and plant parameters from the pot experiment were used in a mechanistic nutrient‐uptake model. Calculated values of Mn influx for wheat grown in soil were 55% to 74% of measured values. A sensitivity analysis showed that increasing CLi or the slope of the uptake isotherm by about 30% would be enough to reach the observed influx. The results of this research indicate that an increase of Mn solubility by microbial or chemical mobilization would increase Mn uptake. But on the other hand, no chemical mobilization would be required to increase Mn uptake if the plant improved its uptake kinetics. Low Mn efficiency of some wheat cultivars was related to their reduced root growth at low soil Mn supply.
Efficient cell reprogramming as a target for functional‐marker strategies? Towards new perspectives in applied plant‐nutrition research
Authors: Arnholdt‐Schmitt Birgit 
Published: July 2005

AbstractThe review aims at visualizing and strengthening approximation of current strategies in plant breeding, plant nutrition, and molecular biology. Innovations in new breeding strategies on quantitative traits are based on the development of functional DNA markers. This requires knowledge on robust physiological key reactions or parameters in view of the desired agronomic trait. To understand the significance of adaptive molecular‐physiological factors for the expression of agronomic traits in quantitative terms, systems analyses have to demonstrate the phenotypic effect of differential gene activities. The logistic to advance in applied systems biology is currently being strongly discussed. In the present contribution, identification of target cells, which are important for agronomic traits, is stressed as a key for future modeling and virtual experimentation. Integration of target cells in systems analysis should allow to link top‐down approaches, that start at the whole‐plant level, with bottom‐up approaches, that come from the molecular level. To illustrate the importance of adaptive cell reprogramming for agronomic traits, reprogramming of rhizodermic cells to trichoblasts is pointed out in its role for nutrient efficiency (NE). The nature of molecular factors, which may serve as functional markers in breeding, is discussed in view of future marker developments.
Soil chemistry and tree nutrition of post‐lignite‐mining sites
Authors: Schaaf Wolfgang , Hüttl Reinhard F. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractDue to the mixture of different geological overburden sediments during the mining process in the Lusatian lignite district (E Germany), soils developing on mine spoils show special characteristics that are very different from naturally developed soils of the surrounding region. In this context, high contents of lignitic fragments and pyrite dominate the early stages of pedogenesis. Amelioration measures utilizing large amounts of fly ash additionally alters top soil properties. A chronosequence approach was used to study soil development at sites afforested with pine over a period of 60 y. In the ameliorated top layers, pH values are clearly elevated, whereas the unameliorated subsoils remain very acid (pH 2.5–2.9). Total carbon stores of the soils are very high. Geogenic organic‐matter contents increase the CEC of the sandy substrates considerably. Secondary minerals such as gypsum govern soil‐solution composition revealing distinct depth gradients. Low pH and extremely high ion concentrations are found especially in the subsoils. Eventually these high values decrease mainly due to completed pyrite oxidation, leaching of soluble phases, and precipitation of secondary minerals. Despite unfavorable soil chemical conditions, the growth and nutritional status of the pine stands at these mine sites is surprisingly good. The content of lignitic fragments and secondary minerals in the soils seems to play an important role for the element cycling and nutritional status of the established forest ecosystems. However, the impact of disturbance provoked by mining operations presents a long‐term effect. The chronosequence sites studied show clear effects of disturbance even after several decades.
Analysis and simulation of soil organic‐carbon stocks in grassland ecosystems in SW Germany
Authors: Werth Martin , Brauckmann Hans‐Jörg , Broll Gabriele , Schreiber Karl‐Friedrich 
Published: July 2005

AbstractGrassland extensification is followed by a change of soil organic‐matter (SOM) contents. In order to give a better assessment of these developments on grassland sites in SW Germany, the CENTURY Soil Organic Matter Model was used on five long‐term experimental sites under three different management practices (“Mowing”, “Mulching” (mowing without removal of the phytomass), and “Natural succession”). On these sites, soil‐organic‐carbon (SOC) monitoring was continuously done for soil depths of 0–4 and 4–8 cm from 1975 to 2002. The contents of organic carbon (OC) were at steady state or showed a slight decrease for the mulched and succession plots. Carbon contents of the mowed plots were decreasing. Measured C contents were transferred into stocks and compared with the simulated OC stocks. Linear regressions between observed and simulated C stocks were calculated separately for mulched and succession plots. The regressions for OC yielded significant relationships (R2 = 0.8) for both kinds of plots. However, the model did not reproduce the short‐term dynamics of C stocks. Whereas SOC stocks on mulched and succession plots are expected to stay stable for the next decades according to the simulation, they are expected to decrease for a couple of years before stabilization on mowed plots.
De‐eutrophication of a nitrogen‐saturated Scots pine forest by prescribed litter‐raking
Authors: Prietzel Jörg , Kaiser Kyrill O. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractShort‐term (<7 years) effects of prescribed litter‐raking on forest‐floor nutrient pools, stand nutrition, and seepage water chemistry were studied in an N‐saturated Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forest in Southern Germany subject to high atmospheric‐nitrogen deposition. The study was based on a comparison of plots with and without annual prescribed litter raking at three sites with different N‐deposition levels. Prescribed litter‐raking resulted in a considerable reduction of forest‐floor thickness and mass, as well as of forest‐floor C, N, P, K, Mg, and Ca pools. Furthermore, it induced a significant decrease of the foliar N content in current‐year needles of the pines and a more balanced nutritional status of the stand. Particularly on the site subject to the highest N deposition, but to a lesser degree also at the other sites, the mean NO$ _3^- $ concentration in the subsoil seepage water and the N export into the groundwater were substantially reduced on the litter‐raked plots. The results show that in N‐saturated Scots pine ecosystems prescribed litter‐raking on areas of limited size, which are used as sources of groundwater‐derived drinking water and/or serve as habitat for endangered plant species, is a quick and effective method to achieve a more balanced nutritional status of the trees and to reduce seepage‐water NO$ _3^- $ concentrations and N export into the groundwater. In terms of sustainable ecosystem nutrient management, the conversion of conifer monocultures into broadleaf‐rich mixed stands is the better, yet less immediately effective method to reduce the seepage‐water N export from conifer forests subject to high atmospheric‐N deposition.
A sensitivity analysis for assessing the relevance of fine‐root turnover for P and K uptake
Authors: Steingrobe Bernd 
Published: July 2005

AbstractPlant fine roots are subject to continual turnover, i.e., old roots die during the plant life cycle and are quickly replaced by new roots. New roots grow partly into undepleted soil areas and can take up nutrients at a higher rate than old roots. This is one possible advantage of root turnover. It has been shown that root turnover of several plant species increases when P and/or K supply is limited, indicating an efficiency mechanism. The objective of this study was to assess the maximum benefit for nutrient uptake by root turnover and to determine which soil or plant properties influence this process. Based on a data set of field‐grown faba beans, a sensitivity analysis with a transport and uptake model was performed, i.e., several input parameters were systematically varied to assess their importance for nutrient uptake of a root system with and without fine‐root turnover. The calculations were based on the assumptions that all new roots grow into undepleted soil areas and that no inter‐root competition occurs.Model calculations indicated that a root system with a high but realistic turnover rate can take up twice the amount of P or K compared to a stable root system without any turnover. This benefit on uptake is higher at low concentrations of these nutrients in soil solution, low soil water content, or high maximum inflow. However, measured uptake under poor conditions of nutrient supply is often higher than calculated uptake, even when root turnover is taken into account. This indicates that root turnover might be an efficiency mechanism, but not the only one.
Iron toxicity in rice—conditions and management concepts
Authors: Becker Mathias , Asch Folkard 
Published: July 2005

AbstractIron toxicity is a syndrome of disorder associated with large concentrations of reduced iron (Fe2+) in the soil solution. It only occurs in flooded soils and hence affects primarily the production of lowland rice. The appearance of iron toxicity symptoms in rice involves an excessive uptake of Fe2+ by the rice roots and its acropetal translocation into the leaves where an elevated production of toxic oxygen radicals can damage cell structural components and impair physiological processes. The typical visual symptom associated with these processes is the “bronzing” of the rice leaves and substantial associated yield losses.The circumstances of iron toxicity are quite well established. Thus, the geochemistry, soil microbial processes, and the physiological effects of Fe2+ within the plant or cell are documented in a number of reviews and book chapters. However, despite our current knowledge of the processes and mechanisms involved, iron toxicity remains an important constraint to rice production, and together with Zn deficiency, it is the most commonly observed micronutrient disorder in wetland rice. Reported yield losses in farmers' fields usually range between 15% and 30%, but can also reach the level of complete crop failure.A range of agronomic management interventions have been advocated to reduce the Fe2+ concentration in the soil or to foster the rice plants' ability to cope with excess iron in either soil or the plant. In addition, the available rice germplasm contains numerous accessions and cultivars which are reportedly tolerant to excess Fe2+. However, none of those options is universally applicable or efficient under the diverse environmental conditions where Fe toxicity is expressed. Based on the available literature, this paper categorizes iron‐toxic environments, the steps involved in toxicity expression in rice, and the current knowledge of crop adaptation mechanisms in view of establishing a conceptual framework for future constraint analysis, research approaches, and the targeting of technical options.
Plant responses to drought and phosphorus deficiency: contribution of phytohormones in root‐related processes
Authors: Wittenmayer Lutz , Merbach Wolfgang 
Published: July 2005

AbstractEnvironmental stresses are one of the most limiting factors in agricultural productivity. A large portion of the annual crop yield is lost to pathogens (biotic stress) or the detrimental effects of abiotic‐stress conditions. There are numerous reports about chemical characterization of quantitatively significant substrate fluxes in plant responses to stress factors in the root‐rhizosphere system, e.g., nutrient mobilization, heavy‐metal and aluminum immobilization, or establishment of plant‐growth‐promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) by exudation of organic anions, phytosiderophores, or carbohydrates into the soil, respectively. The hormonal regulation of these responses is not well understood. This paper highlights this complex process, stressing the involvement of phytohormones in plant responses to drought and phosphorus deficiency as examples. Beside ethylene, abscisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in drought‐stress adaptation of plants. This hormone causes morphological and chemical changes in plants, ensuring plant survival under water‐limited conditions. For example, ABA induces stomata closure, reduction in leaf surface, and increase in root : shoot ratio and, thus, reduction in transpiration and increase in soil volume for water uptake. Furthermore, it supports water uptake in soil with decreasing water potential by osmotic adjustment. Suitability of hormonal parameters in the selection for improving stress resistance is discussed. Auxins, ethylene, and cytokinins are involved in morphological adaption processes to phosphorus (P) deficiency (increase in root surface, e.g., by the formation of more dense root hairs or cluster roots). Furthermore, indole‐3‐acetic acid increases root exudation for direct and indirect phosphorus mobilization in soil. Nevertheless, the direct use of the trait “hormone content” of a particular plant organ or tissue, for example the use of the drought‐stress‐induced ABA content of detached leaves in plant breeding for drought‐stress‐resistant crops, seems to be questionable, because this procedure does not consider the systemic principle of hormonal regulation in plants.
Does apoplastic ascorbic acid enhance manganese tolerance of Vigna unguiculata and Phaseolus vulgaris?
Authors: Fecht‐Christoffers Marion M. , Horst Walter J. 
Published: July 2005

AbstractIn cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), the development of manganese (Mn) toxicity is considered to be accompanied by the formation of reactive oxygen species, oxidized Mn, and phenoxy radicals in the leaf apoplast. Ascorbic acid (AA) is a common antioxidant in plants, and the oxidation of AA, particularly in the leaf apoplast, contributes to the first line of defence against several biotic and abiotic stress factors. The objective of the present study was to contribute to a better understanding of the role of AA in Mn leaf‐tissue tolerance of cowpea and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Five cowpea cultivars (cvs.) differed greatly in Mn tolerance, which was expressed in differences in numbers of brown spots on leaves and in peroxidase (POD) activity in the apoplastic washing fluid (AWF). In a Mn‐sensitive cv., after 3 d of Mn treatment, brown spots were formed, and POD activities were increased, accompanied by a release of proteins into the apoplast. In the AWF, the concentration of AA and the ratio of AA : (AA+DHA) decreased already after 1 d, and to only 2% after 3 d. In the leaf tissue, the ratio was nearly unaffected, and the total AA+DHA content in the leaf tissue was even increased with advanced expression of Mn toxicity. The application of AA solutions in the range of 5–10 μM via the petiole slightly enhanced Mn tolerance as indicated by the reduction of brown spots (however inconsistently) and POD activity (consistently) in the AWF. Common bean cultivars differing in ozone tolerance, which has been reported to be due to a high AA availability in the leaf apoplast, were studied for their Mn tolerance. Clear differences in Mn tolerance between the cultivars existed, however, these differences were not related to their ozone tolerance. From these results, we conclude that the maintenance of sufficient AA levels in the leaf apoplast contribute to Mn tolerance, but does not fully explain genotypic differences in Mn tolerance in cowpea and common bean.
Development of a quick on‐farm test to determine nitrate levels in soil
Authors: Schmidhalter Urs 
Published: July 2005

AbstractCrop management can be optimized and nitrogen (N) losses can be reduced with a better knowledge of soil‐nitrogen availability, especially if this information becomes directly available on‐site in a fast and cost‐effective way. In this paper, simple on‐farm methods to determine nitrate‐N in field‐moist soil samples immediately after sampling are described. The procedures include volumetric soil sampling, extraction based on manual shaking with tap water as universally available extractant, filtering soil/extractant mixtures on‐site, on‐site determination of the soil water content, and reflectometric nitrate measurements based on test strips. Using correction factors can compensate the impact of the temperature during the final nitrate measurement. An excellent agreement was found between the developed quick‐test procedures and the standard laboratory procedure. The proposed quick‐test has great potential to enable economical savings for farmers as well as benefiting the environment.