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Carbohydrates in Plant Development and Stress Response
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Carbohydrates in Plant Development and Stress Response

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2019) | Viewed by 39016

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elisa Petrussa

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Guest Editor
Università degli Studi di Udine, Department of AgriFood, Environmental and Animal Sciences, Via delle Scienze 91, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Interests: plant-programmed cell death, flavonoid subcellular transport and metabolism, plant mitochondria calcium transport, grapevine responses to drought stress, pathogen- related protein elicitation in grapevines
Dr. Valentino Casolo

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Guest Editor
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
Interests: plant physiology and applied plant biology; plant response to abiotic stresses
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental threats and their combined action affect plant development and crop quality and productivity. Plants respond to these challenges by activating multiple and complex defense responses involving anatomical, physiological, and biochemical acclimations, including metabolomics modifications. In this context, non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are crucial to driving developmental, phenological and stress responses. The balance between reserves, such as starch or fructans, and other sugar pools can play distinct roles at the plant level, from energy metabolism and cell membrane transport, to osmoregulation, hormonal interaction, developmental signaling, and provide carbon skeletons for secondary metabolites, which are involved in growth and in several responses to environmental stress conditions.

The present Special Issue aims at improving our knowledge of the carbohydrate-mediated plant response to environmental cues. The interaction between and/or modulation of distinct carbohydrates, their related enzymes, and sugar derivatives (e.g., sugar acids and sugar alcohols) during defence responses is also of great interest.

Dr. Elisa Petrussa
Dr. Valentino Casolo
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Non-structural carbohydrates
  • Abiotic stress
  • Carbon starvation
  • Development
  • Plant traits
  • Signaling
  • Metabolomics
  • Plant Production

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 9334 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Non-Structural Carbohydrates and Xylem Anatomy of Leaf Petioles Offers New Insights in the Drought Response of Two Grapevine Cultivars
by Rachele Falchi, Elisa Petrussa, Enrico Braidot, Paolo Sivilotti, Francesco Boscutti, Marco Vuerich, Carla Calligaro, Antonio Filippi, José Carlos Herrera, Paolo Sabbatini, Marco Zancani, Andrea Nardini, Enrico Peterlunger and Valentino Casolo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(4), 1457; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21041457 - 20 Feb 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5446
Abstract
In grapevine, the anatomy of xylem conduits and the non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) content of the associated living parenchyma are expected to influence water transport under water limitation. In fact, both NSC and xylem features play a role in plant recovery from drought stress. [...] Read more.
In grapevine, the anatomy of xylem conduits and the non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) content of the associated living parenchyma are expected to influence water transport under water limitation. In fact, both NSC and xylem features play a role in plant recovery from drought stress. We evaluated these traits in petioles of Cabernet Sauvignon (CS) and Syrah (SY) cultivars during water stress (WS) and recovery. In CS, the stress response was associated to NSC consumption, supporting the hypothesis that starch mobilization is related to an increased supply of maltose and sucrose, putatively involved in drought stress responses at the xylem level. In contrast, in SY, the WS-induced increase in the latter soluble NSCs was maintained even 2 days after re-watering, suggesting a different pattern of utilization of NSC resources. Interestingly, the anatomical analysis revealed that conduits are constitutively wider in SY in well-watered (WW) plants, and that water stress led to the production of narrower conduits only in this cultivar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrates in Plant Development and Stress Response)
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18 pages, 4044 KiB  
Article
Functional Characterization of a Drought-Responsive Invertase Inhibitor from Maize (Zea mays L.)
by Lin Chen, Xiaohong Liu, Xiaojia Huang, Wei Luo, Yuming Long, Steffen Greiner, Thomas Rausch and Hongbo Zhao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(17), 4081; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20174081 - 21 Aug 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3898
Abstract
Invertases (INVs) play essential roles in plant growth in response to environmental cues. Previous work showed that plant invertases can be post-translationally regulated by small protein inhibitors (INVINHs). Here, this study characterizes a proteinaceous inhibitor of INVs in maize (Zm-INVINH4). A functional analysis [...] Read more.
Invertases (INVs) play essential roles in plant growth in response to environmental cues. Previous work showed that plant invertases can be post-translationally regulated by small protein inhibitors (INVINHs). Here, this study characterizes a proteinaceous inhibitor of INVs in maize (Zm-INVINH4). A functional analysis of the recombinant Zm-INVINH4 protein revealed that it inhibited both cell wall and vacuolar invertase activities from maize leaves. A Zm-INVINH4::green fluorescent protein fusion experiment indicated that this protein localized in the apoplast. Transcript analysis showed that Zm-INVINH4 is specifically expressed in maize sink tissues, such as the base part of the leaves and young kernels. Moreover, drought stress perturbation significantly induced Zm-INVINH4 expression, which was accompanied with a decrease of cell wall invertase (CWI) activities and an increase of sucrose accumulation in both base parts of the leaves 2 to 7 days after pollinated kernels. In summary, the results support the hypothesis that INV-related sink growth in response to drought treatment is (partially) caused by a silencing of INV activity via drought-induced induction of Zm-INVINH4 protein. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrates in Plant Development and Stress Response)
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16 pages, 6390 KiB  
Article
Cloning and Functional Assessments of Floral-Expressed SWEET Transporter Genes from Jasminum sambac
by Panpan Wang, Peining Wei, Fangfei Niu, Xiaofeng Liu, Hongliang Zhang, Meiling Lyu, Yuan Yuan and Binghua Wu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(16), 4001; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20164001 - 16 Aug 2019
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4548
Abstract
Sugar transporters of the SWEET family mediate cross membrane movement of mono- and disaccharides and play vital roles in diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes, including sink–source relationship, pathogen responses, reproductive growth, and development. However, it remains to be determined how these transporters function [...] Read more.
Sugar transporters of the SWEET family mediate cross membrane movement of mono- and disaccharides and play vital roles in diverse physiological and pathophysiological processes, including sink–source relationship, pathogen responses, reproductive growth, and development. However, it remains to be determined how these transporters function in non-module plants of agricultural significance, given the evolutionarily diverse traits. In this study, we combined transcriptome analysis, rapid amplification of cDNA ends-cloning (RACE-cloning), expression profiling, and heterologous functional assay to identify SWEET genes that may have potential roles during flower opening and sexual reproduction in Jasminum sambac . During the anthesis, the floral organs of J. sambac express seven SWEET homologous genes from all four clades of the family. JsSWEET9 and 2 are significantly upregulated when flowers are fully opened, up to 6- and 3-fold compared to unopened buds, respectively. The other transporters, JsSWEET1, 5, 10, and 17 are also accumulated slightly at stage associated with fragrance release, whereas only the vacuole transporter JsSWEET16 showed small decrease in transcript level after anthesis. The JsSWEET5, a clade II member, is capable to complement yeast cell uptake on most tested sugar substrates with a preference for hexoses, while the clade I transporter JsSWEET1 mediates merely galactose import when expressed in yeast. Our results provide first evidence for further investigation on sugar transport and allocation during flowering and reproductive processes in J. sambac. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrates in Plant Development and Stress Response)
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17 pages, 3571 KiB  
Article
A 6&1-FEH Encodes an Enzyme for Fructan Degradation and Interact with Invertase Inhibitor Protein in Maize (Zea mays L.)
by Hongbo Zhao, Steffen Greiner, Klaus Scheffzek, Thomas Rausch and Guoping Wang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(15), 3807; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20153807 - 4 Aug 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3429
Abstract
About 15% of higher plants have acquired the ability to convert sucrose into fructans. Fructan degradation is catalyzed by fructan exohydrolases (FEHs), which are structurally related to cell wall invertases (CWI). However, the biological function(s) of FEH enzymes in non-fructan species have remained [...] Read more.
About 15% of higher plants have acquired the ability to convert sucrose into fructans. Fructan degradation is catalyzed by fructan exohydrolases (FEHs), which are structurally related to cell wall invertases (CWI). However, the biological function(s) of FEH enzymes in non-fructan species have remained largely enigmatic. In the present study, one maize CWI-related enzyme named Zm-6&1-FEH1, displaying FEH activity, was explored with respect to its substrate specificities, its expression during plant development, and its possible interaction with CWI inhibitor protein. Following heterologous expression in Pichia pastoris and in N. benthamiana leaves, recombinant Zm-6&1-FEH1 revealed substrate specificities of levan and inulin, and also displayed partially invertase activity. Expression of Zm-6&1-FEH1 as monitored by qPCR was strongly dependent on plant development and was further modulated by abiotic stress. To explore whether maize FEH can interact with invertase inhibitor protein, Zm-6&1-FEH1 and maize invertase inhibitor Zm-INVINH1 were co-expressed in N. benthamiana leaves. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analysis and in vitro enzyme inhibition assays indicated productive complex formation. In summary, the results provide support to the hypothesis that in non-fructan species FEH enzymes may modulate the regulation of CWIs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrates in Plant Development and Stress Response)
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17 pages, 3129 KiB  
Article
6-SFT, a Protein from Leymus mollis, Positively Regulates Salinity Tolerance and Enhances Fructan Levels in Arabidopsis thaliana
by Mao Li, Xiaolan He, Dongdong Hao, Jun Wu, Jixin Zhao, Qunhui Yang and Xinhong Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(11), 2691; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20112691 - 31 May 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3077
Abstract
Fructans play vital roles in abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In this study, we isolated the sucrose:6-fructosyltransferase gene, which is involved in the synthesis of fructans, from Leymus mollis by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The Lm-6-SFT gene was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana [...] Read more.
Fructans play vital roles in abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In this study, we isolated the sucrose:6-fructosyltransferase gene, which is involved in the synthesis of fructans, from Leymus mollis by rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The Lm-6-SFT gene was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana cv. Columbia by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The transgenic plants were evaluated under salt stress conditions. The results showed that the expression of Lm-6-SFT was significantly induced by light, abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and salt treatment in L. mollis plants. Overexpression of Lm-6-SFT in Arabidopsis promoted seed germination and primary root growth during the early vegetative growth stage under salt stress. We also found that the transgenic plants expressing Lm-6-SFT had increased proline and fructan levels. β-Glucuronidase staining and promoter analysis indicated that the promoter of Lm-6-SFT was regulated by light, ABA, and salt stress. Quantitative PCR suggested that overexpression of Lm-6-SFT could improve salt tolerance by interacting with the expression of some salt stress tolerance genes. Thus, we demonstrated that the Lm-6-SFT gene is a candidate gene that potentially confers salt stress tolerance to plants. Our study will aid the elucidation of the regulatory mechanism of 6-SFT genes in herb plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrates in Plant Development and Stress Response)
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Review

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20 pages, 1674 KiB  
Review
The Possible Role of Non-Structural Carbohydrates in the Regulation of Tree Hydraulics
by Martina Tomasella, Elisa Petrussa, Francesco Petruzzellis, Andrea Nardini and Valentino Casolo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(1), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21010144 - 24 Dec 2019
Cited by 97 | Viewed by 8842
Abstract
The xylem is a complex system that includes a network of dead conduits ensuring long-distance water transport in plants. Under ongoing climate changes, xylem embolism is a major and recurrent cause of drought-induced tree mortality. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) play key roles in plant [...] Read more.
The xylem is a complex system that includes a network of dead conduits ensuring long-distance water transport in plants. Under ongoing climate changes, xylem embolism is a major and recurrent cause of drought-induced tree mortality. Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) play key roles in plant responses to drought and frost stress, and several studies putatively suggest their involvement in the regulation of xylem water transport. However, a clear picture on the roles of NSCs in plant hydraulics has not been drawn to date. We summarize the current knowledge on the involvement of NSCs during embolism formation and subsequent hydraulic recovery. Under drought, sugars are generally accumulated in xylem parenchyma and in xylem sap. At drought-relief, xylem functionality is putatively restored in an osmotically driven process involving wood parenchyma, xylem sap and phloem compartments. By analyzing the published data on stem hydraulics and NSC contents under drought/frost stress and subsequent stress relief, we found that embolism build-up positively correlated to stem NSC depletion, and that the magnitude of post-stress hydraulic recovery positively correlated to consumption of soluble sugars. These findings suggest a close relationship between hydraulics and carbohydrate dynamics. We call for more experiments on hydraulic and NSC dynamics in controlled and field conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrates in Plant Development and Stress Response)
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15 pages, 436 KiB  
Review
Dynamics of Plant Metabolism during Cold Acclimation
by Lisa Fürtauer, Jakob Weiszmann, Wolfram Weckwerth and Thomas Nägele
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(21), 5411; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20215411 - 30 Oct 2019
Cited by 123 | Viewed by 8562
Abstract
Plants have evolved strategies to tightly regulate metabolism during acclimation to a changing environment. Low temperature significantly constrains distribution, growth and yield of many temperate plant species. Exposing plants to low but non-freezing temperature induces a multigenic processes termed cold acclimation, which eventually [...] Read more.
Plants have evolved strategies to tightly regulate metabolism during acclimation to a changing environment. Low temperature significantly constrains distribution, growth and yield of many temperate plant species. Exposing plants to low but non-freezing temperature induces a multigenic processes termed cold acclimation, which eventually results in an increased freezing tolerance. Cold acclimation comprises reprogramming of the transcriptome, proteome and metabolome and affects communication and signaling between subcellular organelles. Carbohydrates play a central role in this metabolic reprogramming. This review summarizes current knowledge about the role of carbohydrate metabolism in plant cold acclimation with a focus on subcellular metabolic reprogramming, its thermodynamic constraints under low temperature and mathematical modelling of metabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbohydrates in Plant Development and Stress Response)
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