Pierre Delaplace

Natural variation of the root morphological response to nitrate supply in Arabidopsis thaliana

Nitrogen fertilization increases crop yield but excessive nitrate use can be a major environmental problem due to soil leaching or greenhouse gas emission. Root traits have been seldom considered as selection criteria to improve Nitrogen Use Efficiency of crops, due to the difficulty of measuring root traits under field conditions. Nonetheless, learning about mechanisms of lateral root (LR) growth stimulation or repression by nitrate availability could help to redesign root system architecture (RSA), a strategy aimed at developing plants with a dense and profound root system and with higher N uptake efficiency. Here, we explored the genetic diversity provided by natural populations of the model species Arabidopsis thaliana to identify potentially adaptive differences in biomass production and root morphology in response to nitrate availability. A core collection of 24 accessions that maximizes the genetic diversity within the species and Col-0 (the reference accession) were grown vertically on agar medium at moderate (N+) nitrate level for 6 days and then transferred to the same condition or to low (N-) nitrate concentration for 7 days. There was a major nutritional effect on the shoot biomass and root to shoot biomass ratio. The variation of the root biomass and RSA traits (primary root length, LRs number, LR mean length, total LRs length and LR densities) was primarily genetically determined. Differences in RSA traits between accessions were somewhat more pronounced at N-. Some accessions produced almost no visible LRs (Pyl-1, N13) at N-, while other produced up to a dozen (Kn-0). Taken together our data illustrate that natural variation exists within Arabidopsis for the studied traits. The identification of RSA ideotypes in the N response will facilitate further analysis of quantitative traits for root morphology.

Influence of rhizobacterial volatiles on the root system architecture and the production and allocation of biomass in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon (L.) P. Beauv.

BackgroundPlant growth-promoting rhizobacteria are increasingly being seen as a way of complementing conventional inputs in agricultural systems. The effects on their host plants are diverse and include volatile-mediated growth enhancement. This study sought to assess the effects of bacterial volatiles on the biomass production and root system architecture of the model grass Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv.ResultsAn in vitro experiment allowing plant-bacteria interaction throughout the gaseous phase without any physical contact was used to screen 19 bacterial strains for their growth-promotion ability over a 10-day co-cultivation period. Five groups of bacteria were defined and characterised based on their combined influence on biomass production and root system architecture. The observed effects ranged from unchanged to greatly increased biomass production coupled with increased root length and branching. Primary root length was increased only by the volatile compounds emitted by Enterobacter cloacae JM22 and Bacillus pumilus T4. Overall, the most significant results were obtained with Bacillus subtilis GB03, which induced an 81xa0% increase in total biomass, as well as enhancing total root length, total secondary root length and total adventitious root length by 88.5, 201.5 and 474.5xa0%, respectively.ConclusionsThis study is the first report on bacterial volatile-mediated growth promotion of a grass plant. Contrasting modulations of biomass production coupled with changes in root system architecture were observed. Most of the strains that increased total plant biomass also modulated adventitious root growth. Under our screening conditions, total biomass production was strongly correlated with the length and branching of the root system components, except for primary root length. An analysis of the emission kinetics of the bacterial volatile compounds is being undertaken and should lead to the identification of the compounds responsible for the observed growth-promotion effects. Within the context of the inherent characteristics of our in vitro system, this paper identifies the next critical experimental steps and discusses them from both a fundamental and an applied perspective.

Could alternative solanaceous hosts act as refuges for the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta?

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is a widespread devastating pest reported to develop on economically important solanaceous plants. The characterization of its effective host range could help to understand and prevent the dispersion behavior of the insect in the environment. In this study, the ability of T. absoluta to locate and develop on wild (Solanum nigrum, Atropa belladonna, Datura stramonium) and cultivated (Solanum tuberosum) solanaceous plant species under laboratory conditions was assessed. Dual-choice behavioral assays performed in flying tunnels (S. tuberosum vs. another plant) revealed that adult distribution and female oviposition did not differ between Solanum species, which were preferred to the other tested plants. The volatile molecules released by each tested plant species provide some explanations in the observed behavioral discrimination: S. nigrum and S. tuberosum volatile profiles were similar and were presenting quantitative and qualitative differences with the other tested solanaceous plants. To determine whether the host plant choice was adaptive or not, we have finally conducted fitness assays, by rearing T. absoluta larvae on each plant species and have shown that Solanum species allowed higher larval survivability and lower development time (from egg to adult emergency) compared to the other plants. We conclude that Solanum species are suitable host plants for T. absoluta, but other solanaceous plant species could be opportunistically colonized with fewer incidences.

archiDART: an R package for the automated computation of plant root architectural traits

Background and aimsIn order to analyse root system architectures (RSAs) from captured images, a variety of manual (e.g. Data Analysis of Root Tracings, DART), semi-automated and fully automated software packages have been developed. These tools offer complementary approaches to study RSAs and the use of the Root System Markup Language (RSML) to store RSA data makes the comparison of measurements obtained with different (semi-) automated root imaging platforms easier. The throughput of the data analysis process using exported RSA data, however, should benefit greatly from batch analysis in a generic data analysis environment (R software).MethodsWe developed an R package (archiDART) with five functions. It computes global RSA traits, root growth rates, root growth directions and trajectories, and lateral root distribution from DART-generated and/or RSML files. It also has specific plotting functions designed to visualise the dynamics of root system growth.ResultsThe results demonstrated the ability of the package’s functions to compute relevant traits for three contrasted RSAs (Brachypodium distachyon [L.] P. Beauv., Hevea brasiliensis Müll. Arg. and Solanum lycopersicum L.).ConclusionsThis work extends the DART software package and other image analysis tools supporting the RSML format, enabling users to easily calculate a number of RSA traits in a generic data analysis environment.

Long-term measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence using the JIP-test show that combined abiotic stresses influence the photosynthetic performance of the perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ) in a managed temperate grassland

Several experiments have highlighted the complexity of stress interactions involved in plant response. The impact in field conditions of combined environmental constraints on the mechanisms involved in plant photosynthetic response, however, remains understudied. In a long-term field study performed in a managed grassland, we investigated the photosynthetic apparatus response of the perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) to environmental constraints and its ability to recover and acclimatize. Frequent field measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) were made in order to determine the photosynthetic performance response of a population of L. perenne. Strong midday declines in the maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry (FV FM ) were observed in summer, when a combination of heat and high light intensity increased photosynthetic inhibition. During this period, increase in photosystem I (PSI) activity efficiency was also recorded, suggesting an increase in the photochemical pathway for de-excitation in summer. Strong climatic events (e.g. heat waves) were shown to reduce electron transport between photosystem II (PSII) and PSI. This reduction might have preserved the PSI from photo-oxidation. Periods of low soil moisture and high levels of sun irradiance increased PSII sensitivity to heat stress, suggesting increased susceptibility to combined environmental constraints. Despite the multiple inhibitions of photosynthetic functionality in summer, the L. perenne population showed increased PSII tolerance to environmental stresses in August. This might have been a response to earlier environmental constraints. It could also be linked to the selection and/or emergence of well-adapted individuals.

Proteomic analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh responses to a generalist sucking pest (Myzus persicae Sulzer)

Herbivorous insects can cause severe cellular changes to plant foliage following infestations, depending on feeding behaviour. Here, a proteomic study was conducted to investigate the influence of green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) as a polyphagous pest on the defence response of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh after aphid colony establishment on the host plant (3 days). Analysis of about 574 protein spots on 2-DE gels revealed 31 differentially expressed protein spots. Twenty out of these 31 differential proteins were selected for analysis by mass spectrometry. In 12 of the 20 analysed spots, we identified seven and nine proteins using MALDI-TOF-MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS, respectively. Of the analysed spots, 25% contain two proteins. Different metabolic pathways were modulated in Arabidopsis leaves according to aphid feeding: most corresponded to carbohydrate, amino acid and energy metabolism, photosynthesis, defence response and translation. This paper has established a survey of early alterations induced in the proteome of Arabidopsis by M. persicae aphids. It provides valuable insights into the complex responses of plants to biological stress, particularly for herbivorous insects with sucking feeding behaviour.

Decrease in the Photosynthetic Performance of Temperate Grassland Species Does Not Lead to a Decline in the Gross Primary Production of the Ecosystem

Plants, under stressful conditions, can proceed to photosynthetic adjustments in order to acclimatize and alleviate the detrimental impacts on the photosynthetic apparatus. However, it is currently unclear how adjustment of photosynthetic processes under environmental constraints by plants influences CO2 gas exchange at the ecosystem-scale. Over a 2-year period, photosynthetic performance of a temperate grassland ecosystem was characterized by conducting frequent chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) measurements on three primary grassland species (Lolium perenne L., Taraxacum sp., and Trifolium repens L.). Ecosystem photosynthetic performance was estimated from measurements performed on the three dominant grassland species weighed based on their relative abundance. In addition, monitoring CO2 fluxes was performed by eddy covariance. The highest decrease in photosynthetic performance was detected in summer, when environmental constraints were combined. Dicot species (Taraxacum sp. and T. repens) presented the strongest capacity to up-regulate PSI and exhibited the highest electron transport efficiency under stressful environmental conditions compared with L. perenne. The decline in ecosystem photosynthetic performance did not lead to a reduction in gross primary productivity, likely because increased light energy was available under these conditions. The carbon amounts fixed at light saturation were not influenced by alterations in photosynthetic processes, suggesting photosynthesis was not impaired. Decreased photosynthetic performance was associated with high respiration flux, but both were influenced by temperature. Our study revealed variation in photosynthetic performance of a grassland ecosystem responded to environmental constraints, but alterations in photosynthetic processes appeared to exhibit a negligible influence on ecosystem CO2 fluxes.

Biostimulant effects of rhizobacteria on wheat growth and nutrient uptake depend on nitrogen application and plant development

ABSTRACT The capacity of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) – Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GB03 (BamGB03), B. megaterium SNji (BmeSNji), and Azospirillum brasilense 65B (Abr65B) – to enhance growth and nutrient uptake in wheat was evaluated under different mineral N fertilizer rates, in sterile and non-sterile soils, and at different developmental stages. In gnotobiotic conditions, the three strains significantly increased plant biomass irrespective of the N rates. Under greenhouse conditions using non-sterile soil, growth promotion was generally highest at a moderate N rate, followed by a full N dose, while no significant effect was observed for the inoculants in the absence of N fertilizer. At 50N, plant biomass was most significantly increased in roots (up to +45% with Abr65B) at stem-elongation stage and in the ears (+19–23% according to the strains) at flowering stages. For some nutrients (N, P, Mn, and Cu), the biomass increases in roots and ears were paralleled with reduced nutrient concentrations in the same organs. Nevertheless, growth stimulation resulted in a higher total nutrient uptake and higher nutrient uptake efficiency. Furthermore, Abr65B and BmeSNji counteracted the reduction of root development caused by a high N supply. Therefore, combining PGPR with a proper cultivated system, N rate, and plant stage could enhance their biostimulant effects.