Silicon as a Sustainable Option to Increase Biomass With Less Water by Inducing Carbon:Nitrogen:Phosphorus Stoichiometric Homeostasis in Sugarcane and Energy Cane.

Climate change has prolonged periods of water deficit in sugarcane and energy cane crops. This condition induces an imbalance of the carbon (C): nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P) stoichiometric homeostasis, impairing accumulated nutrients from being converted into biomass. Silicon (Si) supplementation can mitigate the damage caused by water deficit in plants by improving the C:N:P balance, increasing C, N, and P use efficiencies and the biomass conversion, and reducing climate change effects on crops. This study assesses the beneficial effects of Si applied through fertigation associated with foliar spraying on the alleviation of damage caused by severe water deficit in sugarcane and energy cane for intermediate and long periods. In addition, the effects in maintenance of nutritional homeostasis we assessed and C, N, and P use efficiencies on sugarcane and energy cane under those conditions were increased. Four experiments were conducted during the first growth cycle of each species. The effect of fertigation associated with Si foliar spraying was evaluated by applying Si only during the seedling formation phase in sugarcane and energy cane grown under severe water deficit for 60 days after transplanting (intermediate period). Then, the effect of Si applied during seedling formation and supplemented after transplanting was evaluated in sugarcane and energy cane grown under severe water deficit for 160 days after transplanting (long period). The Si supply decreased C contents, modified the C:N:P ratio, and increased C, N, and P use efficiencies in plants of both species under water deficit at the intermediate and long periods after transplanting. The effects of applying Si through fertigation associated with foliar spraying during seedling formation mitigated the damage caused by severe water deficit in the intermediate period, which was mainly observed in sugarcane. When supplemented with Si after transplanting, the mitigating effects occurred in both species under severe long period water deficit. Therefore, the Si supply through fertigation associated with foliar spraying is a viable alternative to provide Si to the plant. It also comes with beneficial effects that partially reverse the damage to nutritional homeostasis and increase nutritional efficiency in plants under severe water deficit.

Interactions between carbon and nitrogen sources depend on RIM15 and determine fermentative or respiratory growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Nutritional homeostasis is fundamental for alcoholic fermentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Carbon and nitrogen have been related to this metabolic process; nevertheless, little is known about their interactions with the media and the energetic metabolism. Rim15p kinase is a point of convergence among different nutrient-activated signaling pathways; this makes it a target to investigate the relationship between nutritional status and energetic metabolism. To improve the current knowledge of nutrient interactions and their association with RIM15, we validated the doubling time as an indicator of growth phenotype, confirming that this kinetic parameter can be related to the cellular bioenergetic status. This endorses the usefulness of a threshold in doubling time values as an indicator of fermentative (≤ 6.5 h) and respiratory growth (≥ 13.2 h). Using the doubling time as response variable, we find that (i) two second-order interactions between type and concentration of carbon and nitrogen sources significantly affected the growth phenotype of S. cerevisiae; (ii) these metabolic interactions changed when RIM15 was deleted, suggesting a dependence on this gene; (iii) high concentration of ammonium (5% w/v) is toxic for S. cerevisiae cells; (iv) proline prompted fermentative growth phenotype regardless presence or absence of RIM15; (v) RIM15 deletion reverted ammonium toxicity when cells were grown in glucose (10% w/v); and (vi) RIM15 deletion improves fermentative metabolism probably by a partial inhibition of the respiration capacity. This study reveals the existence of synergic and diverse roles of carbon and nitrogen sources that are affected by RIM15, influencing the fermentative and respiratory growth of S. cerevisiae.

Nutritional disorder in Pfaffia glomerata by mercury excess in nutrient solution / Desordem nutricional em Pfaffia glomerata pelo excesso de mercúrio em solução nutritiva

ABSTRACT: The mineral nutritional homeostasis in response to different concentrations of Hg (0, 25 and 50μM) was evaluated in Pfaffia glomerata plant. The exposure to the highest level of Hg (50µM) caused a decreasing in shoot and root fresh weights of 15.5% and 20%, respectively. Both shoot and root Hg concentrations increased linearly with increasing external Hg concentrations. Ca concentration decreased in shoot only at 50µM Hg, whereas shoot K and Mg concentrations decreased at both 25 and 50µM Hg, when compared to the control. A significant decrease in Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations in plants exposed to Hg was observed, but most Zn, Mn, and Cu in the roots. On the other hand, P concentration increased in both root and shoot of plants exposed at 25 and 50µM Hg, whereas Na concentration increased only in the root at 25 and 50µM Hg exposure. In general, tissue nutrient concentrations in P. glomerata plantlets exposed to Hg were significantly decreased, which indicates that the Hg may cause alteration on the mineral nutritional homeostasis of this species.

RESUMO: A homeostase nutricional mineral em resposta a diferentes concentrações de Hg (0, 25 e 50μM) foram avaliadas em plantas de Pfaffia glomerata. A exposição ao mais alto nível de Hg (50µM) causou um decréscimo de 15,5% e 20%, respectivamente, na matéria fresca da parte aérea e raízes. As concentrações de Hg na parte aérea e raízes aumentaram linearmente com o aumento das concentrações de Hg. A concentração de Ca decresceu na parte aérea somente em 50µM Hg, enquanto as concentrações de K e Mg na parte aérea decresceram tanto em 25 como em 50µM Hg, quando comparado ao controle. Observou-se um significativo decréscimo nas concentrações de Cu, Zn, Fe e Mn nas plantas expostas ao Hg, mas principalmente Zn, Mn e Cu nas raízes. Por outro lado, a concentração de P aumentou em raízes e parte aérea de plantas expostas a 25 e 50µM Hg, enquanto a concentração de Na aumentou somente nas raízes em 25 e 50µM Hg. No geral, as concentrações de nutrientes nos tecidos de P. glomerata expostas ao Hg foram significativamente diminuídas, o que indica que o Hg pode causar alterações na homeostase nutricional mineral dessa espécie.

Nutritional disorder in Pfaffia glomerata by mercury excess in nutrient solution / Desordem nutricional em Pfaffia glomerata pelo excesso de mercúrio em solução nutritiva

The mineral nutritional homeostasis in response to different concentrations of Hg (0, 25 and 50;M) was evaluated in Pfaffia glomerata plant. The exposure to the highest level of Hg (50µM) caused a decreasing in shoot and root fresh weights of 15.5% and 20%, respectively. Both shoot and root Hg concentrations increased linearly with increasing external Hg concentrations. Ca concentration decreased in shoot only at 50µM Hg, whereas shoot K and Mg concentrations decreased at both 25 and 50µM Hg, when compared to the control. A significant decrease in Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations in plants exposed to Hg was observed, but most Zn, Mn, and Cu in the roots. On the other hand, P concentration increased in both root and shoot of plants exposed at 25 and 50µM Hg, whereas Na concentration increased only in the root at 25 and 50µM Hg exposure. In general, tissue nutrient concentrations in P. glomerata plantlets exposed to Hg were significantly decreased, which indicates that the Hg may cause alteration on the mineral nutritional homeostasis of this species.(AU)

A homeostase nutricional mineral em resposta a diferentes concentrações de Hg (0, 25 e 50;M) foram avaliadas em plantas de Pfaffia glomerata. A exposição ao mais alto nível de Hg (50µM) causou um decréscimo de 15,5% e 20%, respectivamente, na matéria fresca da parte aérea e raízes. As concentrações de Hg na parte aérea e raízes aumentaram linearmente com o aumento das concentrações de Hg. A concentração de Ca decresceu na parte aérea somente em 50µM Hg, enquanto as concentrações de K e Mg na parte aérea decresceram tanto em 25 como em 50µM Hg, quando comparado ao controle. Observou-se um significativo decréscimo nas concentrações de Cu, Zn, Fe e Mn nas plantas expostas ao Hg, mas principalmente Zn, Mn e Cu nas raízes. Por outro lado, a concentração de P aumentou em raízes e parte aérea de plantas expostas a 25 e 50µM Hg, enquanto a concentração de Na aumentou somente nas raízes em 25 e 50µM Hg. No geral, as concentrações de nutrientes nos tecidos de P. glomerata expostas ao Hg foram significativamente diminuídas, o que indica que o Hg pode causar alterações na homeostase nutricional mineral dessa espécie.(AU)

Nutritional disorder in Pfaffia glomerata by mercury excess in nutrient solution

ABSTRACT: The mineral nutritional homeostasis in response to different concentrations of Hg (0, 25 and 50M) was evaluated in Pfaffia glomerata plant. The exposure to the highest level of Hg (50µM) caused a decreasing in shoot and root fresh weights of 15.5% and 20%, respectively. Both shoot and root Hg concentrations increased linearly with increasing external Hg concentrations. Ca concentration decreased in shoot only at 50µM Hg, whereas shoot K and Mg concentrations decreased at both 25 and 50µM Hg, when compared to the control. A significant decrease in Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations in plants exposed to Hg was observed, but most Zn, Mn, and Cu in the roots. On the other hand, P concentration increased in both root and shoot of plants exposed at 25 and 50µM Hg, whereas Na concentration increased only in the root at 25 and 50µM Hg exposure. In general, tissue nutrient concentrations in P. glomerata plantlets exposed to Hg were significantly decreased, which indicates that the Hg may cause alteration on the mineral nutritional homeostasis of this species.

RESUMO: A homeostase nutricional mineral em resposta a diferentes concentrações de Hg (0, 25 e 50M) foram avaliadas em plantas de Pfaffia glomerata. A exposição ao mais alto nível de Hg (50µM) causou um decréscimo de 15,5% e 20%, respectivamente, na matéria fresca da parte aérea e raízes. As concentrações de Hg na parte aérea e raízes aumentaram linearmente com o aumento das concentrações de Hg. A concentração de Ca decresceu na parte aérea somente em 50µM Hg, enquanto as concentrações de K e Mg na parte aérea decresceram tanto em 25 como em 50µM Hg, quando comparado ao controle. Observou-se um significativo decréscimo nas concentrações de Cu, Zn, Fe e Mn nas plantas expostas ao Hg, mas principalmente Zn, Mn e Cu nas raízes. Por outro lado, a concentração de P aumentou em raízes e parte aérea de plantas expostas a 25 e 50µM Hg, enquanto a concentração de Na aumentou somente nas raízes em 25 e 50µM Hg. No geral, as concentrações de nutrientes nos tecidos de P. glomerata expostas ao Hg foram significativamente diminuídas, o que indica que o Hg pode causar alterações na homeostase nutricional mineral dessa espécie.

Nutritional disorder in Pfaffia glomerata by mercury excess in nutrient solution

ABSTRACT: The mineral nutritional homeostasis in response to different concentrations of Hg (0, 25 and 50M) was evaluated in Pfaffia glomerata plant. The exposure to the highest level of Hg (50µM) caused a decreasing in shoot and root fresh weights of 15.5% and 20%, respectively. Both shoot and root Hg concentrations increased linearly with increasing external Hg concentrations. Ca concentration decreased in shoot only at 50µM Hg, whereas shoot K and Mg concentrations decreased at both 25 and 50µM Hg, when compared to the control. A significant decrease in Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn concentrations in plants exposed to Hg was observed, but most Zn, Mn, and Cu in the roots. On the other hand, P concentration increased in both root and shoot of plants exposed at 25 and 50µM Hg, whereas Na concentration increased only in the root at 25 and 50µM Hg exposure. In general, tissue nutrient concentrations in P. glomerata plantlets exposed to Hg were significantly decreased, which indicates that the Hg may cause alteration on the mineral nutritional homeostasis of this species.

RESUMO: A homeostase nutricional mineral em resposta a diferentes concentrações de Hg (0, 25 e 50M) foram avaliadas em plantas de Pfaffia glomerata. A exposição ao mais alto nível de Hg (50µM) causou um decréscimo de 15,5% e 20%, respectivamente, na matéria fresca da parte aérea e raízes. As concentrações de Hg na parte aérea e raízes aumentaram linearmente com o aumento das concentrações de Hg. A concentração de Ca decresceu na parte aérea somente em 50µM Hg, enquanto as concentrações de K e Mg na parte aérea decresceram tanto em 25 como em 50µM Hg, quando comparado ao controle. Observou-se um significativo decréscimo nas concentrações de Cu, Zn, Fe e Mn nas plantas expostas ao Hg, mas principalmente Zn, Mn e Cu nas raízes. Por outro lado, a concentração de P aumentou em raízes e parte aérea de plantas expostas a 25 e 50µM Hg, enquanto a concentração de Na aumentou somente nas raízes em 25 e 50µM Hg. No geral, as concentrações de nutrientes nos tecidos de P. glomerata expostas ao Hg foram significativamente diminuídas, o que indica que o Hg pode causar alterações na homeostase nutricional mineral dessa espécie.