2013 Vol 64.3 IMPROVING PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Preface Leegood & Long

Photorespiratory bypasses: how can they work? Peterhansel et al.

Rubisco activity and regulation as targets for crop improvement. Parry et al.

Chloroplast transformation for engineering of photosynthesis. Hanson et al.

Engineering photosynthesis in plants and synthetic microorganisms. Maurino and Weber

The cyanobacterial CCM as a source of genes for improving photosynthetic CO₂ fixation in crop species. Dean Price et al.

Origins and diversity of eukaryotic carbon concentrating mechanisms: lessons for the future. Meyer and Griffiths

Cyanobacterial-based approaches to improving photosynthesis in plants. Zarzycki et al.

Nonenzymic carotenoid oxidation and photooxidative stress signalling in plants. Ramel et al.

Leaf rolling allows quantification of mRNA abundance in mesophyll cells of sorghum. Covshoff et al.

ROOTS AND PRODUCTIVITY

Maximizing root/rhizosphere efficiency for improving crop productivity and nutrient use efficiency in intense agriculture of China. Fusuo Zhang

The objectives of this paper are to summarize the principles of root/rhizosphere management and provide an overview of some successful case studies on how to exploit the biological potential of root system and rhizosphere processes to improve crop productivity and nutrient use efficiency.

Contributions of roots and rootstocks to sustainable, intensified crop production. Gregory et al.

The purpose of this review is to explore some of the ways in which understanding root systems and their interactions with soils could contribute to the development of more sustainable systems of intensive production. Physical interactions with soil particles limit root growth if soils are dense, but root–soil contact is essential for optimal growth and uptake of water and nutrients.

Apoplastic hydrogen peroxide in the growth zone of the maize primary root under water stress. I. Increased levels are specific to the apical region of growth maintenance. Voothuluru and Sharp

To gain an understanding of how apoplastic ROS levels change under water stress, cerium chloride staining was used in conjunction with transmission electron microscopy to examine the spatial distribution of apoplastic H2O2. The results revealed that apoplastic H2O2 levels increased specifically in the apical region of the growth zone under water stress, correlating spatially with the maintenance of cell elongation.

Soil conditions and cereal root system architecture: review and considerations for linking Darwin and Weaver. Rich & Watt

Here we review how soil conditions influence root system architecture; focusing on cereals. Cereals provide half of human calories, and their root systems differ from those of dicotyledons. We find that few controlled-environment studies combine more than one soil stimulus and, those that do, highlight the complexity of responses.

INDUCED RESISTANCE TO BIOTIC STRESS

On the move: Induced resistance in monocots. Balmer et al.

Although plants possess an arsenal of constitutive defences such as structural barriers and preformed antimicrobial defences, many attackers are able to overcome the pre-existing defence layers. In this review, current facts and trends concerning basal immunity, and systemic acquired/induced systemic resistance in the defence of monocots against pathogens and herbivores will be summarized.

Microbial recognition and evasion of host immunity. Pel and Pieterse

Evasion of host immune recognition is less well studied but is emerging as another important strategy. Escape from recognition by the host’s immune system can be caused by alterations in the structure of the recognized MAMPs, or by active intervention of ligand-receptor recognition. This paper reviews the structure and recognition of common MAMPs and the ways that plant-associated microbes have evolved to prevent detection by their host.

Soil abiotic factors influence interactions between below ground herbivores and plant roots. Erb and Lu

Root herbivores are important ecosystem drivers and agricultural pests, and, possibly as a consequence, plants protect their roots using a variety of defensive strategies. One aspect that distinguishes belowground from aboveground plant–insect interactions is that roots are constantly exposed to a set of soil-specific abiotic factors. These factors can profoundly influence root resistance, and, consequently, the outcome of the interaction with belowground feeders. In this review, we synthesize the current literature on the impact of soil moisture, nutrients, and texture on root–herbivore interactions.

Controlling crop diseases using induced resistance: challenges for the future. Walters et al.

Since induced resistance is a host response, its expression under field conditions is likely to be influenced by a number of factors, including the environment, genotype, crop nutrition and the extent to which plants are already induced. Although research in this area has increased over the last few years, our understanding of the impact of these influences on the expression of induced resistance is still poor.

Towards establishing broad-spectrum disease resistance in plants: silicon leads the way. Van Bockhaven et al.

Priming of plant immune responses, alterations in phytohormone homeostasis, regulation of iron homeostasis, silicon-driven photorespiration and interaction with defence signalling components all are potential mechanisms involved in regulating silicon-triggered resistance responses. Further elucidating how silicon exerts its beneficial properties may create new avenues for developing plants that are better able to withstand multiple attackers.

NEW INSIGHTS INTO THE PLANT NUCLEAR ENVELOPE: Proteins and their interaction

The molecular architecture of the plant nuclear pore complex. Tamura and Hara-Nishimura

The nucleus contains the cell’s genetic material, which directs cellular activity via gene regulation. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the plant NPC proteome and address structural and functional aspects of plant nucleoporins, which support the fundamental cellular machinery.

Assessing the function of the plant nuclear pore complex and the search for specificity. Geraint Parry

The plant nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a critical controlling element in this nucleocytoplasmic movement of protein and RNA. The NPC is comprised of approximately 30 nucleoporin proteins arranged in radial symmetry around the central pore. Here is presented an overview as to how the members of the plant NPC affect signalling pathways, highlighting the progress and difficulties within this research area.

AUXIN

Auxin biosynthesis and storage forms. DA Korasick, TA Enders & L Strader

This review discusses the many ways auxin levels are regulated through biosynthesis, storage forms, and inactivation, and the potential roles modified auxins play in regulating the bioactive pool of auxin to affect plant growth and development.

Tuning the auxin transcriptional response Pierre-Jerome, Moss & Nemhauser

How does auxin provoke such a diverse array of responses? We review what is currently known about differences between family members of the components that make up the auxin response complex, as well as areas of potential differences in their interactions outside of the core module

Auxin: simply complicated M Sauer, S Robert, & J Kleine-Vehn

Auxin is a plant hormone involved in an extraordinarily broad variety of biological mechanisms. These range from basic cellular processes, such as endocytosis, cell polarity and cell cycle control over localized responses like cell elongation and differential growth, to macroscopic phenomena such as embryogenesis, tissue patterning and de novo formation of organs. This review gives an overview of these rather recent and emerging areas of auxin research, and tries to formulate some of the open questions.

Auxin and self-organization at the shoot apical meristem. M Sassi & T Vernoux

This review discusses both the experimental and theoretical evidence for the implication of auxin in the control of organogenesis and self organization of the shoot apical meristem.

The role of auxin in shaping shoot architecture. Andrea Gallavotti

Recent advances in deciphering the molecular mechanisms that regulate auxin function have produced several tools to investigate how auxin affects the establishment and plasticity of plant morphology. Here the extensive evidence that connects auxin and its biology with the determination of plant shoot architecture is reviewed, with particular emphasis on the most recent discoveries in two well-studied model plant systems, the dicotyledonous Arabidopsis and the monocot maize.

Lateral root initiation is a probabilistic event whose frequency is set by fluctuating levels of auxin response MJ Laskoswski

This review assesses the sequence of molecular events that lead to lateral root formation in relation to the locations in which they occur, addresses how nutrients regulate the response generally though not exclusively by altering sensitivity to auxin, and finally considers the factors that control auxin levels.

Auxin and the Arabidopsis thaliana gynoecium. E Larsson, RG Franks & E Sundberg

This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of how auxin biosynthesis, transport and responses together generate specific gynoecial domains. It also highlights areas where future research endeavors are likely to provide additional insight into the homeostatic molecular mechanisms by which auxin regulates gynoecium development

Evidence of oxidative attenuation of auxin signalling. WA Peer, Y Chen & AS Murphy

This report summarizes previously published data and show additional data regarding oxIAA is generation in planta, oxIAA as a substrate in transport assays, and oxIAA as a signalling molecule in auxin-mediate responses. It then examine the relationship between IAA and ROS generation, and oxIAA levels in ROS scavenging mutants.

PLANT BIOMECHANICS Edited by Bruno Moulia

Biophysical and size-dependent perspectives on plant evolution. Karl J. Niklas

Although organisms cannot obviate the effects of physical laws and processes, the consequences of these effects can be altered by ontogenetic or phylogenetic alterations in geometry, shape, or orientation as well as in body size. This examination shows how physical laws limit phenotypic expression, but how they also simultaneously provide alternative, potentially adaptive possibilities.

A comprehensive set of biomechanical functional traits to analyse the ecological strategies of trees: beyond wood density and rigidity. Fournier et al.

Plant micro and nanomechanics. I Burgert & T Keplinger

Shrinking the hammer: micromechanical approaches to morphogenesis. P Milani, SA Braybrook & A Boudaoud

Root growth and function in a structured soil. Jin et al.

Slow, fast and furious: understanding the physics of plant movements. Y Forterre

On the role of stress anisotropy in the growth of stems. TI Baskin and OE Jensen

The modes of deformation of walled cells. J Dumais

A force of nature: molecular mechanisms of mechanoperception in plants. GB Monshausen & ES Haswell

Mechanical control of morphogenesis at the shoot apex. Robinson et al.

The cellular mechanics of an invasive life style. AA Nezhad & A Geitmann

Methods for measuring plant vulnerability to cavitation: a critical review. Cochard et al.

TECHNIQUES FOR ECOPHYSIOLOGY

Will C₃ crops enhanced with the C₄ CO₂ concentrating mechanisms live up to their full potential (yield)? SM Driever & J Komdrijk

This review assesses possible positive or negative effects of the introduction of a CO₂-concentrating mechanism in C₃ crop species on crop potential productivity and yield robustness.

Measurement of the matric potential of soil water WR Whalley, ES Ober & M Jenkins

In this review, the relationship between matric potential and soil water content is explored. A critique of current methods to measure matric potential is presented together with the limitations of current methods as well as underexploited opportunities.

Thermography to explore plant-environment interactions JM Costa, OM Grant, MM Chaves

This review presents and discusses the advantages of thermal imaging applications to plant science, agriculture, and ecology, as well as its limitations and possible approaches to minimize them, by highlighting examples from previous and ongoing research.

Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis: a guide to good practice and understanding some new applications EH Murchie & T Lawson

Techniques in plant metabolic ecology Brunetti et al.

Crawling leaves: photosynthesis in sacoglossan sea slugs Cruz et al.

EVOLUTION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES

The dominant presence of tocotrienols in Arecaceae reveals that they can substitute tocopherols in the dormant seeds of some taxa

Ontogeny strongly and differentially alters leaf economic and other key traits in three diverse Helianthus species

Uncorrelated evolution of floral and foliar vein densities across the angiosperm tree of life

Is it easy to move and easy to evolve? Evolutionary accessibility and adaptation

How do leaf veins influence the worldwide leaf economic spectrum? Review and synthesis

The evolution of autotrophy in relation to phosphorus requirement

Did greater burial depth increase the seed size of domesticated legumes?

Uncorrelated evolution of leaf and petal venation patterns across the angiosperm phylogeny

PEPTIDE SIGNALLING IN PLANTS

Peptides as pathogenic signatures induce plant defence M Albert & G Felix

Take a deep breath: peptide signaling in stomatal patterning and differentiation K Toori

GOLVEN peptide signaling controls different developmental processes in the root A Fernandez, P Hilson & T Beeckman

IDA a peptide ligand regulating cell separation processes in plants M Butenko

CLE family R Simon & Y Stahl

Talking cells: what do they decide? I De Smet

NEVERSHED and INFLORESCENCE DEFICIENT IN ABSCISSION are differentially required for cell expansion and cell separation during floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis thaliana Liu et al.

Regulation of plant vascular stem cells by endodermis-derived EPFL-family peptide hormones and phloem-expressed ERECTA-family receptor kinases N Uchida & M Tasaka

Mining the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana as a basis for the identification of novel bioactive peptides involved in oxidative stress tolerance De Coninck et al.

REVIEWS 2013

Genetic engineering to improve plant performance under drought: physiological evaluation of achievements, limitations and possibilities DW Lawlor

Taking transgenic rice drought screening to the field Gaudin et al.

Salt stress or salt shock: which genes are we studying? Y Shavrukov

The role of l-ascorbic acid recycling in responding to environmental stress and in promoting plant growth DR Gallie

Sensing the environment: key roles of membrane-localized kinases in plant perception and response to abiotic stress Osakabe et al.

The molecular architecture of the plant nuclear pore complex Tamura & Hara-Nishimura

Assessing the function of the plant nuclear pore complex and the search for specificity G Parry

The significance of CP29 reversible phosphorylation in thylakoids of higher plants under environmental stresses Chen et al.

In this review, we discuss recent advancements in CP29 phosphorylation and dephosphorylation studies and its physiological significance under environmental stresses in higher plants, especially in the monocotyledonous crops

What controls fleshy fruit acidity? A review of malate and citrate accumulation in fruit cells Etienne et al.

This review combines analyses of transcriptomic, metabolomic, and proteomic data, and fruit process-based simulation models of the accumulation of citric and malic acids, to further our understanding of the physiological mechanisms likely to control the accumulation of these two acids during fruit development.

Sweet immunity in the plant circadian regulatory network Bolouri Moghaddam & Van den Ende
This review focuses on the emerging connections between sugar metabolism, sugar signalling, hormone signalling, and the circadian clock, with repercussions on plant innate immunity, uncovering the possible integrated network among these components.