Aluminum induces cross‑resistance of potato to Phytophthora Infestans
This article is about an experiment done to try to see if Aluminum can cause resistance in potatoes to a disease. Aluminum is commonly found in arid soils which accounts for 35% of all farmable on earth. The aluminum (specifically Al3+) targets the roots of the plants and causes stunted plant growth and abnormal root formation. THis causes stresses in the plant which could lead to cross resistance. This immunity has led to some plants to develop cross resistance to diseases. THis has happened before in the plant, an example is the fact that ozone induces resistance to the tobacco mosaic virus in tobacco plants. This phenomenon is what is being tested for in potato plants. Potato plants will be subjected to infections from Phytophthora infestans. They sprayed the plant with bacterial cultures in order to infect the potato plant with the P. infestans. This was done by spraying the plant the P. infestans zoospores in a liquid suspension. After the plant was sprayed, it was moved to a room with 100% humidity in the dark for 12 hours at 18 degrees Celsius. After the twelve hour, they were moved to a growth chamber under controlled conditions. The plants were inspected for infection at the 24,48,and 74 hour mark. THe amount of infection was determined by observing the discoloration on the leaves of the plant.
The level of Nitric Oxide in the plants were measured by taking samples of the root and the leaves. A dye was applied to the nitric oxide in order for it to be more clear when viewed.
Salicylic Acid(SA) was measured was by measuring 0.5g of plant tissue. The tissue was ground to a fine powder with liquid nitrogen. The acid was then extracted twice with Methan...
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...e involved in the plants carbohydrate metabolism. This response causes the plant’s cell walls to be rearranged and strengthened. THis would increase the plants resistance to infection and the uptake of harmful chemicals.
Several other chemicals which were involved in either signalling or as part of the defense response in plants were also seen to be at increased levels. What this means is that there is a proven correlation between aluminum exposure and a reduction in blight symptoms caused by P.infestans. It also was shown that the plants were also quicker to respond to other stresses. This means that certain strsses(in this case the aluminum) act as priming agents forthe defense response.
SA which has been shown to have an important role ina plant’s defense responses also had an increased amount of production, which helped increase the plants immune response.
Two members of the group were instructed to visit the laboratory each day of the experiment to water and measure the plants (Handout 1). The measurements that were preformed were to be precise and accurate by the group by organizing a standardized way to measure the plants. The plants were measured from the level of the soil, which was flat throughout all the cups, to the tip of the apical meristems. The leaves were not considered. The watering of the plants took place nearly everyday, except for the times the lab was closed. Respective of cup label, the appropriate drop of solution was added to the plant, at the very tip of the apical meristems.
Although, this experiment is not concluded outdoors, it is provided with efficient light that promotes growth. It’s provided with soil, seed, fertilizer, water and NaCl solutions, to test how salinity effects plant growth.
The basis for the symbiotic relationship in these species is complex. The infection of the host cell by rhizobia occurs within the plant’s root nodules. Bacteroides, gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, are isolated from the host cell by a peribacteroid membrane; the membrane between the plasma membrane of the cell and the membrane of the bacteroid. The bacteroid contains differentiated rhizobia, which are able to fix nitrogen due to the supply of carbon from the host plant. Sucrose is delivered to the nodules of the root via the phloem, where it is cleaved by suc synthase, and enters the Krebs cycle. The product of glyco...
Burpee, Lee, and Richard Latin. 2008. "Reassessment of Fungicide Synergism for Control of Dollar Spot." Plant Disease 92.4: 601-06.
Materials used in the experiment included 5-7 g of the potato tissue, 50ml of 2.0M phosphate buffer coffee filter and guaiacol dye.
...ut 10%. This is despite of obtaining high virus titers. Symptomless plants are regarded as carriers of PVX and are an important source of infection. Under more severe conditions, necrotic streaks and severe mosaic, crinkling and rugosity of the leaves can occur. Especially upon mixed infections with potato virus Y (PVY), the yield loss can be up to 50%.
In this laboratory experiment, the rate of photosynthesis was measured through the use of the “floating leaf disk technique.” The leaf disks were placed into a syringe and the O2 and CO2 in the mesophyll layers of the leaves were removed and then replaced with sodium bicarbonate or water, causing the leaves to sink to the bottom of the container. If one determines the number of leaf disks rising to the top as a result of an increase in oxygen gas in the mesophyll cells, then the rate of photosynthesis is able to be measured because O2 is a product of photosynthesis. The first step of this experiment was a feasibility study of the variance in the photosynthetic activity of the leaf disks in both water and bicarbonate solutions. After five minutes of light exposure, all of the leaf disks in the bicarbonate solution (10 disks) had ...
The issue written in this article is regarding the banning and lack of approval for blight-resistant potatoes in the european union. Late potato blight, a potato disease caused by the the eukaryotic microorganism phytophthora infestans, is a significant cause for loss of crop and yield by potato farmers. Looking back to the past, the blight was responsible for the catastrophic Irish Great Famine of the 1840s causing eradication of their main food source, potatoes. As a result of the blight, potatoes become rotten and unsafe for human consumption. Late potato blight today is still a serious issue because it has caused the loss of $5.9 billion dollars of potatoes worldwide annually.By engineering blight resistance into potatoes, scientists have hoped to increase the yield and productivity of potato crops affected by this devastating disease. However, the attempts of the scientists are met with strong resistance by anti-GMO activists and lobbying groups, who are intent on food as naturally pure as possible. In consequence of not using genetically modified potatoes, the farmers are forced to use costly pesticides in an attempt to control the blight. With the human population rapidly increasing, it is essential that all measures be taken to increase food/crop yield in order to prevent starvation and hunger caused by the overpopulation. The battle between agricultural researchers like Simplot and the anti-GMO lobbying group GeneWatch is a controversial one that must be addressed by this generation and future generations.
Sulfur may enter the plants in few ways such as enter through the roots in form of sulphate ion, dissolved in water with form of sulphate ion or in form of gaseous sulfur dioxide (SO2) which can penetrates into the leaves through the stomata. But both of it can be utilized by plants through the metabolism of normal sulfur, although the limited pathway via cuticle was proof. However, the aperture of the stomata was largely controlled by conditions of the environment, such as temperature, ligh...
Plant defences are those mechanisms employed by plants in response to herbivory and parasitism. According to Hanley et al. (2007), “the tissues of virtually all terrestrial, freshwater, and marine plants have qualities that to some degree reduce herbivory, including low nitrogen concentration, low moisture content, toxins or digestibility-reducing compounds”. The type of chemical defence may be species specific (Scott 2008). The defences that plants possess may be in the form of chemical production or in the form of physical defences such as thorns or spikes and even through reinforced, rigid leaves. “The compounds that are produced in response to herbivory can either have a direct effect on the attacker itself (e.g. toxins or digestibility reducers), or serve as indirect defenses by attracting the natural enemies of the herbivores” (Bezemer & van Dam 2005). This essay will focus on chemical plant defences and in particular the effects of terpenes, phenolics, nitrogen-based defences as well as allelopathy in plants.
Researchers then hypothesized that the results would indicate the greatest amount of potato enzyme activity level will take place at room temperature. In this experiment, researchers used potato extract and different temperature levels to test the hypothesis. Moreover, researchers wanted to test the color intensity scale and how specific catechol oxidase is for catechol. In this experiment, researchers used dH2O, catechol solution, hydroquinone, and potato extract. Lastly, researchers tested the substrate concentration and how it has an effect on enzyme activity.
When there is water deficiency in plants, the concentration of abscisic acid in plants’ cells increases triggering the closure of stomata. Karp (2009) stated that “abscisic acid binds to a GPCR in plasma membrane of guard cells” (p.638). The receptors then activate several pathways in response to this condition. This attachment causes the opening of Ca2+ channels which transfer Ca2+ from vacuole into cytosol. At ...
The "cardboard" tomato problem illustrates a larger problem in agriculture - crop spoilage associated with the predations of insects and fungi and with shipping. We saw that picking fruits such as tomatoes while they are green and chemically ripening them is a solution to some of the spoilage problem in crops, while using other chemicals can prevent some damage by pests. However, these chemicals often create environmental hazards in areas where they are used, and pests can often develop resistance to chemicals used to destroy them, making the release of even more pesticides and fungicides int...
Genetic engineering enhances plant resistance to drought, salinity, disease, pests and herbicides. The aim is to try and enhance the growth, productivity, nutrient value, and chemical composition of the plants. Chemicals are constantly being developed or improved to enhance the competitiveness and adaptability of crops, and to kill the parasites and weeds which plague the agricultural sector. . This however is not always good as the plant and the pests then become resistant to these new chemicals defeating the purpose of it being used. The new chemicals which are produced to kill these strong pests and weeds may be more harmful to other plants and remove nutrients within the soil in turn reducing the yield of agricultural crops. The benefits of these characteristics are seen in Argentina according to Pelletier (2010) as they use glyphosphate resistant soybean which allowed the comeback of this crop, as the so...
When studying plant nutrition, it is important to analyze the sources of the nutrition. Plants absorb their nutrients using their roots in the soil, however soil is not a uniform nutritive source. The plant’s wellbeing depends greatly on the quality, composition, and thickness of the soil. To help categorize such a broad topic, scientists have implemented a naming scheme for the different levels of soil. The first layer is closest to ...