Interactions between plant hormones regulate submergence-induced shoot elongation in the flooding-tolerant dicot Rumex palustris. (1/35)

Rumex palustris has the capacity to respond to complete submergence with hyponastic (upward) growth and stimulated elongation of petioles. These adaptive responses allow survival of this plant in habitats with sustained high water levels by re-establishing contact with the aerial environment. Accumulated ethylene in submerged petioles interacts with ethylene receptor proteins and operates as a reliable sensor for the under-water environment. Further downstream in the transduction pathway, a fast and substantial decrease of the endogenous abscisic acid concentration and a certain threshold level of endogenous auxin and gibberellin are required for hyponastic growth and petiole elongation. Interactions of these plant hormones results in a significant increase of the in vitro cell wall extensibility in submerged petioles. Furthermore, the pattern of transcript accumulation of a R. palustris alpha-expansin gene correlated with the pattern of petiole elongation upon submergence.  (+info)

Plant movement. Submergence-induced petiole elongation in Rumex palustris depends on hyponastic growth. (2/35)

The submergence-tolerant species Rumex palustris (Sm.) responds to complete submergence by an increase in petiole angle with the horizontal. This hyponastic growth, in combination with stimulated elongation of the petiole, can bring the leaf tips above the water surface, thus restoring gas exchange and enabling survival. Using a computerized digital camera set-up the kinetics of this hyponastic petiole movement and stimulated petiole elongation were studied. The hyponastic growth is a relatively rapid process that starts after a lag phase of 1.5 to 3 h and is completed after 6 to 7 h. The kinetics of hyponastic growth depend on the initial angle of the petiole at the time of submergence, a factor showing considerable seasonal variation. For example, lower petiole angles at the time of submergence result in a shorter lag phase for hyponastic growth. This dependency of the hyponastic growth kinetics can be mimicked by experimentally manipulating the petiole angle at the time of submergence. Stimulated petiole elongation in response to complete submergence also shows kinetics that are dependent on the petiole angle at the time of submergence, with lower initial petiole angles resulting in a longer lag phase for petiole elongation. Angle manipulation experiments show that stimulated petiole elongation can only start when the petiole has reached an angle of 40 degrees to 50 degrees. The petiole can reach this "critical angle" for stimulated petiole elongation by the process of hyponastic growth. This research shows a functional dependency of one response to submergence in R. palustris (stimulated petiole elongation) on another response (hyponastic petiole growth), because petiole elongation can only contribute to the leaf reaching the water surface when the petiole has a more or less upright position.  (+info)

The roles of ethylene, auxin, abscisic acid, and gibberellin in the hyponastic growth of submerged Rumex palustris petioles. (3/35)

Rumex palustris responds to complete submergence with upward movement of the younger petioles. This so-called hyponastic response, in combination with stimulated petiole elongation, brings the leaf blade above the water surface and restores contact with the atmosphere. We made a detailed study of this differential growth process, encompassing the complete range of the known signal transduction pathway: from the cellular localization of differential growth, to the hormonal regulation, and the possible involvement of a cell wall loosening protein (expansin) as a downstream target. We show that hyponastic growth is caused by differential cell elongation across the petiole base, with cells on the abaxial (lower) surface elongating faster than cells on the adaxial (upper) surface. Pharmacological studies and endogenous hormone measurements revealed that ethylene, auxin, abscisic acid (ABA), and gibberellin regulate different and sometimes overlapping stages of hyponastic growth. Initiation of hyponastic growth and (maintenance of) the maximum petiole angle are regulated by ethylene, ABA, and auxin, whereas the speed of the response is influenced by ethylene, ABA, and gibberellin. We found that a submergence-induced differential redistribution of endogenous indole-3-acetic acid in the petiole base could play a role in maintenance of the response, but not in the onset of hyponastic growth. Since submergence does not induce a differential expression of expansins across the petiole base, it is unlikely that this cell wall loosening protein is the downstream target for the hormones that regulate the differential cell elongation leading to submergence-induced hyponastic growth in R. palustris.  (+info)

RP-ACS1, a flooding-induced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase gene of Rumex palustris, is involved in rhythmic ethylene production. (4/35)

Many semi-aquatic plants respond to flooding by elongating the shoot to reach the water surface. This response is initiated by accumulation of ethylene in the plant due to decreased gas-exchange and continued ethylene production during submergence. Ethylene biosynthesis is often limited by the availability of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), the precursor of ethylene, synthesized by ACC synthase. Here, is reported the cloning of a Rumex palustris cDNA corresponding to an ACC synthase gene (RP-ACS1), whose expression is induced by submergence in the long term but does not precede the observed short-term increase in ACS activity. Under aerated conditions, RP-ACS1 messenger accumulation exhibited circadian rhythmicity with high levels in the dark phase and low levels in the light phase, similar to the oscillations in ethylene production under these conditions. ACC oxidase (RP-ACO1) messenger accumulation also showed a rhythmic pattern, but opposite to that of RP-ACS1, and closely resembled the ethylene oscillation found in R. palustris plants that were waterlogged. Together the results indicate that transcriptional regulation of RP-ACS1 may directly control rhythmic ethylene production under aerated condition and suggest that post-transcriptional regulation is important in initial up-regulation of ACS activity upon submergence.  (+info)

The evolution of reproductive systems and sex-determining mechanisms within rumex (polygonaceae) inferred from nuclear and chloroplastidial sequence data. (5/35)

The genus Rumex includes hermaphroditic, polygamous, gynodioecious, monoecious, and dioecious species, with the dioecious species being represented by different sex-determining mechanisms and sex-chromosome systems. Therefore, this genus represents an exceptional case study to test several hypotheses concerning the evolution of both mating systems and the genetic control of sex determination in plants. Here, we compare nuclear intergenic transcribed spacers and chloroplast intergenic sequences of 31 species of Rumex. Our phylogenetic analysis supports a systematic classification of the genus, which differs from that currently accepted. In contrast to the current view, this new phylogeny suggests a common origin for all Eurasian and American dioecious species of Rumex, with gynodioecy as an intermediate state on the way to dioecy. Our results support the contention that sex determination based on the balance between the number of X chromosomes and the number of autosomes (X/A balance) has evolved secondarily from male-determining Y mechanisms and that multiple sex-chromosome systems, XX/XY1Y2, were derived twice from an XX/XY system. The resulting phylogeny is consistent with a classification of Rumex species according to their basic chromosome number, implying that the evolution of Rumex species might have followed a process of chromosomal reduction from x = 10 toward x = 7 through intermediate stages (x = 9 and x = 8).  (+info)

The possible mechanisms for the antifertility action of methanolic root extract of Rumex steudelii. (6/35)

BACKGROUND: The practice of traditional medicine for the control of fertility in most parts of Ethiopia is based on the uses of plant medicines for many years. Rumex steudelii Hochst (Polygonaceae), locally known as "Tult" or "Yeberemelas" is one of the traditionally used antifertility plants in Ethiopia. In our previous study, the methanolic extract of R. steudelii root was found to show antifertility activity in female rats. OBJECTIVES: The present study focused further on the possible mechanisms of the antifertility effect of the methanolic extract of R. steudelii. METHODS: The effect of the extract on implantation, the uterus weight of immature ovariectomized rats and serum estrogen-progesterone ratio was evaluated. Its effect on isolated guinea pig uterus in the presence and absence of uterine muscle contractions inhibitors was also assessed. Test for in vivo abortifacient effect was also carried out. RESULTS: It was found that the extract decreased the number of implantation sites significantly. At a contraceptive dose, it was also observed to have no estrogenic activity in immature rat bioassay. The extract did not affect the serum estrogen-progesterone ratio. It produced concentration dependent increase in uterine muscle contractions similar to those of the standard drug, oxytocin. Incubation of the tissue with three uterine muscle contractions inhibitors revealed that the extract produced uterine contractions perhaps by activating muscarinic and/or histaminic receptors. The in vivo abortifacient effect was not seen upon administration of both lower and higher doses of the extract in pregnant rats. CONCLUSION: All these observations suggest that the extract produced antifertility effect mainly by inhibiting implantation though antiestrogen, progesteron and uterotonic effects could as well be possible mechanisms.  (+info)

Submergence-induced morphological, anatomical, and biochemical responses in a terrestrial species affect gas diffusion resistance and photosynthetic performance. (7/35)

Gas exchange between the plant and the environment is severely hampered when plants are submerged, leading to oxygen and energy deficits. A straightforward way to reduce these shortages of oxygen and carbohydrates would be continued photosynthesis under water, but this possibility has received only little attention. Here, we combine several techniques to investigate the consequences of anatomical and biochemical responses of the terrestrial species Rumex palustris to submergence for different aspects of photosynthesis under water. The orientation of the chloroplasts in submergence-acclimated leaves was toward the epidermis instead of the intercellular spaces, indicating that underwater CO(2) diffuses through the cuticle and epidermis. Interestingly, both the cuticle thickness and the epidermal cell wall thickness were significantly reduced upon submergence, suggesting a considerable decrease in diffusion resistance. This decrease in diffusion resistance greatly facilitated underwater photosynthesis, as indicated by higher underwater photosynthesis rates in submergence-acclimated leaves at all CO(2) concentrations investigated. The increased availability of internal CO(2) in these "aquatic" leaves reduced photorespiration, and furthermore reduced excitation pressure of the electron transport system and, thus, the risk of photodamage. Acclimation to submergence also altered photosynthesis biochemistry as reduced Rubisco contents were observed in aquatic leaves, indicating a lower carboxylation capacity. Electron transport capacity was also reduced in these leaves but not as strongly as the reduction in Rubisco, indicating a substantial increase of the ratio between electron transport and carboxylation capacity upon submergence. This novel finding suggests that this ratio may be less conservative than previously thought.  (+info)

Rumex acetosa Y chromosomes: constitutive or facultative heterochromatin? (8/35)

Condensed Y chromosomes in Rumex acetosa L. root-tip nuclei were studied using 5-azaC treatment and immunohistochemical detection of methylated histones. Although Y chromosomes were decondensed within root meristem in vivo, they became condensed and heteropycnotic in roots cultured in vitro. 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) treatment of cultured roots caused transitional dispersion of their Y chromosome bodies, but 7 days after removal of the drug from the culture medium, Y heterochromatin recondensed and again became visible. The response of Rumex sex chromatin to 5-azaC was compared with that of condensed segments of pericentromeric heterochromatin in Rhoeo spathacea (Sw.) Steam roots. It was shown that Rhoeo chromocentres, composed of AT-rich constitutive heterochromatin, did not undergo decondensation after 5-azaC treatment. The Y-bodies observed within male nuclei of R. acetosa were globally enriched with H3 histone, demethylated at lysine 4 and methylated at lysine 9. This is the first report of histone tail-modification in condensed sex chromatin in plants. Our results suggest that the interphase condensation of Y chromosomes in Rumex is facultative rather than constitutive. Furthermore, the observed response of Y-bodies to 5-azaC may result indirectly from demethylation and the subsequent altered expression of unknown genes controlling tissue-specific Y-inactivation as opposed to the global demethylation of Y-chromosome DNA.  (+info)

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