Transcriptional analysis of Rhazya stricta in response to jasmonic acid

BACKGROUND: Jasmonic acid (JA) is a signal transducer molecule that plays an important role in plant development and stress response; it can also efficiently stimulate secondary metabolism in plant cells. RESULTS: RNA-Seq technology was applied to identify differentially expressed genes and study the time course of gene expression in Rhazya stricta in response to JA. Of more than 288 million total reads, approximately 27% were mapped to genes in the reference genome. Genes involved during the secondary metabolite pathways were up- or downregulated when treated with JA in R. stricta. Functional annotation and pathway analysis of all up- and downregulated genes identified many biological processes and molecular functions. Jasmonic acid biosynthetic, cell wall organization, and chlorophyll metabolic processes were upregulated at days 2, 6, and 12, respectively. Similarly, the molecular functions of calcium-transporting ATPase activity, ADP binding, and protein kinase activity were also upregulated at days 2, 6, and 12, respectively. Time-dependent transcriptional gene expression analysis showed that JA can induce signaling in the phenylpropanoid and aromatic acid pathways. These pathways are responsible for the production of secondary metabolites, which are essential for the development and environmental defense mechanism of R. stricta during stress conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and aromatic acid synthesis pathways were upregulated during JA stress. However, monoterpenoid indole alkaloid (MIA) was unaffected by JA treatment. Hence, we can postulate that JA plays an important role in R. stricta during plant development and environmental stress conditions.

Testing accession genetic composition of a germ-plasm bank for mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa) / Validação da amostragem para composição de um banco de germoplasma de mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa)

The objective of the current study was to measure the genetic variability of natural populations of Hancornia speciosa using RAPD type molecular markers to assay variation in existing sampled genotypes, using morphological variables, and so assess germplasm bank composition. Morphological and chemical characteristics H. speciosa fruits and seeds were evaluated using descriptive statistics and principal components analysis. Cluster analyzes was conducted using Jaccard's similarity index, via the UPGMA hierarchical agglomerative method. Phenotypic variability was found in the two studied populations. However, variability was higher in the São Judas population, where the variables: pulp yield and soluble solids content were higher than those in the Canaã population. High genetic variability was found in both study populations, and between- and within-population morphological and genetic variation was present in the studied populations. The nine primers generated 70 bands, of which 68 were polymorphic, with the primers A-08 and C-04 generating the highest number of polymorphic bands. The two populations differ principally in the pulp ratio and the proportion of total solids in the pulp (°Brix). RAPD markers used gave acceptable results and, to initiate the Federal University of Tocantins Active Mangaba Germplasm Bank, seven genotypes were sampled from the Canaã population and five from the São Judas Tadeu population.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo mensurar a variabilidade genética de populações naturais de Hancornia speciosa utilizando marcadores moleculares do tipo RAPD para validar a amostragem de genótipos, realizada por meio de variáveis morfológicas, para a composição de um banco de germoplasma. Foram avaliadas características morfológicas e químicas de frutos e sementes de mangaba, utilizando-se estatística descritiva e análise de componentes principais. As análises de agrupamento foram feitas utilizando índice de similaridade de Jaccard, através do método hierárquico aglomerativo UPGMA. Foi observada grande variabilidade fenotípica nas duas populações estudas, porém, essa variabilidade foi maior na população São Judas, onde as variáveis: rendimento de polpa e teor de sólidos solúveis foram maiores que os encontrados na população Canaã. Observou-se uma elevada variabilidade genética nas duas populações estudadas e que existe variabilidade morfológica e genética entre e dentro das populações. As duas populações diferem principalmente em relação ao rendimento de polpa e teor de sólidos solúveis totais (°Brix). Os nove iniciadores que amplificaram geraram 70 bandas, destas, 68 foram polimórficas, onde os primers A-08 e C-04 foram os que geraram maior número de bandas polimórficas. Portanto, os marcadores RAPD utilizados foram eficientes no presente estudo e para comporem o Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de Mangaba da Universidade Federal do Tocantins foram amostrados sete genótipos da população Canaã e cinco da população São Judas Tadeu.

Conservação e enraizamento in vitro de infalível (Mandevilla velutina K. Schum.), uma planta medicinal do Cerrado / In vitro conservation and rooting of "infalível" (Mandevilla velutina K. Schum.), a medicinal plant of Cerrado

Mandevilla velutina (Apocynaceae) é uma planta medicinal endêmica do Cerrado brasileiro conhecida popularmente como infalível, utilizada pela população em tratamentos de processos inflamatórios e acidentes com serpentes. Atualmente, esta espécie encontra-se em risco de extinção, devido à coleta extrativista. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram otimizar o protocolo para o enraizamento in vitro de M. velutina e introduzir diferentes genótipos em banco de germoplasma in vitro, a fim de se estabelecer a conservação da espécie. Foram realizados cinco experimentos de enraizamento in vitro utilizando ANA, AIB, di e poliaminas, dithiothreitol e floroglucinol. As avaliações foram realizadas aos 30 e 60 dias quanto à porcentagem de enraizamento, número e comprimento de raiz. Para a introdução dos genótipos in vitro, foram utilizados segmentos nodais (1 cm) como explantes, contendo uma gema axilar ou apical, coletados de plantas mantidas em casa de vegetação, submetidos previamente à assepsia. As avaliações foram realizadas durante quatro semanas, quanto à porcentagem de contaminação dos explantes. Os resultados obtidos nas avaliações evidenciaram que a presença de compostos fenólicos no meio de cultura foi importante na promoção do enraizamento adventício in vitro de M. velutina e a metodologia de assepsia para a introdução de diferentes genótipos in vitro foi eficiente.

Mandevilla velutina (Apocynaceae) is a medicinal plant endemic to the Brazilian Cerrado, commonly known as "infalivel" and used by the population for treatments of inflammatory processes and accidents with snakes. This species is currently endangered due to extraction. The aims of this study were to optimize the protocol for in vitro rooting of M. velutina and to introduce different genotypes in the in vitro germplasm bank to establish the species conservation. Five experiments for in vitro rooting were conducted using NAA, IBA, di and polyamines, dithiothreitol and phloroglucinol. Evaluations were performed at 30 and 60 days as to rooting percentage, and root number and length. For the introduction of genotypes in vitro, nodal segments (1 cm) were used as explants; they had an axillary or apical bud and were collected from plants kept in a greenhouse after being subjected to asepsis. Evaluations were carried out for four weeks as to the percentage of explant contamination. Results showed that the presence of phenolic compounds in the culture medium was important to promote in vitro adventitious rooting in M. velutina and that the asepsis methodology for the introduction of in vitro of different genotypes was efficient.

Genetic transformation and hairy root induction in Holostemma ada-kodien K. Schum--a vulnerable medicinal plant.

Hairy roots were induced from shoot buds and seedling hypocotyls of Holostemma by infection with agropine type Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains. Type of explant, Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain used for infection, co-culture time and photoperiod influenced the transformation frequencies. Hairy roots were induced from seedling hypocotyls and shoot bud explants upon infection with agropine type Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains. The hairy roots were thin, whitish in colour and showed negatively geotropic growth. The transformed nature of hairy roots was confirmed by opine analysis.