Many species of slugs are considered serious pests in agriculture and horticulture around the world. In Europe, slugs of the genera Arion and Deroceras are the most harmful pests in agriculture. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the whole-cell metabolites of 10 strains of five Xenorhabdus and three slug-parasitic nematodes (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, Phasmarhabditis bohemica, and Phasmarhabditis apuliae) on the feeding behaviour and repellent effect on target slugs and evaluate a new possible means of biocontrol of these pests. The repellent and anti-feedant effects of nematode-killed insects, metabolites, slug-parasitic nematodes and a combination of metabolites and nematodes were studied through experimental designs: sand-filled plastic boxes divided into two parts in several modifications: with dead Galleria mellonella killed by nematodes, lettuce treated with bacterial metabolites and lettuce placed on the treated sand. We found that slugs avoid eating G. mellonella killed by nematodes, while they eat freeze-killed G. mellonella. Similarly, they avoid the consumption of lettuce in areas treated with bacterial metabolites (the most effective strains being Xenorhabus bovienii NFUST, Xenorhabdus kozodoii SLOV and JEGOR) with zero feeding in the treated side. All three Phasmarhabditis species also provided a significant anti-feedant/repellent effect. Our study is the first to show the repellent and anti-feedant effects of metabolites of Xenorhabdus bacteria against Arion vulgaris, and the results suggest that these substances have great potential for biocontrol. Our study is also the first to demonstrate the repellent effect of P. apuliae and P. bohemica. KEY POINTS: • Slugs avoid eating G. mellonella killed by entomopathogenic nematodes. • Bacterial metabolites have a strong repellent and antifeedant effect on slugs. • Presence of slug parasitic nematodes increases the repellent effect of metabolites.

• Klíčová slova
• Biological control, Enterobacter, Phasmarhabditis apuliae, Phasmarhabditis bohemica, Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, Steinernema,
• MeSH
• Bacteria MeSH
• hlístice * MeSH
• písek MeSH
• salát (hlávkový) MeSH
• Xenorhabdus * MeSH
• zemědělství MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• písek MeSH

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Justicia adhatoda L. is used as traditional medicine in Nepal to treat cough, asthma, and inflammatory disorders, and is indicated as "Asuro". Leaves are used worldwide as herbal medicine due to cardiotonic, expectorant, anti-asthmatic, and bronchodilatory properties. The aim of this work was to study the phytochemical composition of leaves of Nepalese J. adhatoda and assess their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Secondary metabolites were extracted from dried leaves using methanol (JAME: J. adhatoda methanol extract). They were analysed by means of liquid chromatography coupled with multiple-stage mass spectrometry (LC-MSn). Anti-inflammatory potential was determined by the NF-κB and AP-1 inhibition assay, and DPPH, ABTS, and β-carotene bleaching assays were performed to assess its antioxidant properties. RESULTS: JAME is a rich source of secondary metabolites, especially quinazoline alkaloids such as vasicine, vasicinone, vasicoline, and adhatodine. 7-Hydroxy derivatives of peganidine, vasicolinone, and adhatodine were also identified by means of MSn data and are here reported in J. adhatoda for the first time. JAME inhibited NF-κB and AP-1 expression in THP-1 cells to a greater extent than the positive control prednisolone. A moderate radical-quenching property was observed in DPPH and ABTS assays, but the anti-carotene bleaching activity was significantly higher than the reference BHT. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first insight into the phytochemical composition of Asuro leaves from Nepal and their bioactivity. Our results will contribute to the valorisation of this medicinal species still widely used in the traditional and complementary medicine.

• Klíčová slova
• Alkaloids, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants, Justicia adhatoda, Medicinal plants, Secondary metabolites,
• MeSH
• alkaloidy * farmakologie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• antiflogistika * farmakologie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• antioxidancia * farmakologie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• chinazoliny * farmakologie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Justicia * chemie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• listy rostlin * chemie   MeSH
• NF-kappa B * metabolismus   MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty * farmakologie   chemie   MeSH
• tradiční lékařství MeSH
• transkripční faktor AP-1 * metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• alkaloidy * MeSH
• antiflogistika * MeSH
• antioxidancia * MeSH
• chinazoliny * MeSH
• NF-kappa B * MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty * MeSH
• transkripční faktor AP-1 * MeSH

The future performance of the widely abundant European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) across its ecological amplitude is uncertain. Although beech is considered drought-sensitive and thus negatively affected by drought events, scientific evidence indicating increasing drought vulnerability under climate change on a cross-regional scale remains elusive. While evaluating changes in climate sensitivity of secondary growth offers a promising avenue, studies from productive, closed-canopy forests suffer from knowledge gaps, especially regarding the natural variability of climate sensitivity and how it relates to radial growth as an indicator of tree vitality. Since beech is sensitive to drought, we in this study use a drought index as a climate variable to account for the combined effects of temperature and water availability and explore how the drought sensitivity of secondary growth varies temporally in dependence on growth variability, growth trends, and climatic water availability across the species' ecological amplitude. Our results show that drought sensitivity is highly variable and non-stationary, though consistently higher at dry sites compared to moist sites. Increasing drought sensitivity can largely be explained by increasing climatic aridity, especially as it is exacerbated by climate change and trees' rank progression within forest communities, as (co-)dominant trees are more sensitive to extra-canopy climatic conditions than trees embedded in understories. However, during the driest periods of the 20th century, growth showed clear signs of being decoupled from climate. This may indicate fundamental changes in system behavior and be early-warning signals of decreasing drought tolerance. The multiple significant interaction terms in our model elucidate the complexity of European beech's drought sensitivity, which needs to be taken into consideration when assessing this species' response to climate change.

• Klíčová slova
• Climate sensitivity, Dendroecology, Drought, Fagus sylvatica, Forests, Linear mixed-effects models,
• MeSH
• buk (rod) * růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• klimatické změny * MeSH
• lesy MeSH
• období sucha * MeSH
• stromy růst a vývoj   fyziologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Similar to soils, tree stems emit and consume nitrous oxide (N2O) from the atmosphere. Although tree leaves dominate tree surface area, they have been completely excluded from field N2O flux measurements and therefore their role in forest N2O exchange remains unknown. We explored the contribution of leaf fluxes to forest N2O exchange. We determined the N2O exchange of mature European beech (Fagus sylvatica) stems and shoots (i.e., terminal branches) and of adjacent forest floor, in a typical temperate upland forest in Germany. The beech stems, and particularly the shoots, acted as net N2O sinks (-0.254 ± 0.827 μg N2O m-2 stem area h-1 and -4.54 ± 1.53 μg N2O m-2 leaf area h-1, respectively), while the forest floor was a net source (2.41 ± 1.08 μg N2O m-2 soil area h-1). The unstudied tree shoots were identified as a significant contributor to the net ecosystem N2O exchange. Moreover, we revealed for the first time that tree leaves act as substantial N2O sinks. Although this is the first study of its kind, it is of global importance for the proper design of future flux studies in forest ecosystems worldwide. Our results demonstrate that excluding tree leaves from forest N2O flux measurements can lead to misinterpretation of tree and forest N2O exchange, and thus global forest greenhouse gas flux inventories.

• Klíčová slova
• Exchange, Fagus sylvatica, Forest floor, Greenhouse gas, Tree leaves, Tree stem,
• MeSH
• buk (rod) * metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch * analýza   MeSH
• lesy MeSH
• listy rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• oxid dusný * analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• výhonky rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Německo MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující vzduch * MeSH
• oxid dusný * MeSH

While plant toxicity reduction remains the primary metric for judging the success of metal immobilization in soil, the suitability of microorganisms as universal indicators of its effectiveness in various contaminated soils remains a point of contention. This study assessed the sensitivity of microbial bioindicators in monitoring metal immobilization success in smelter-impacted soils. It compared plants and microorganisms as indicators of the efficiency of natural Fe-Mn nodules from the Gulf of Finland in immobilizing metals in soils contaminated by a Ni/Cu smelter, on the Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region, Russia. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was grown on nodule-amended and control soils. Plant responses in the smelter-impacted soils proved to be sensitive and robust indicators of successful metal immobilization. However, microbial responses exhibited a more complex story. Despite the observed reductions in soluble metal concentrations, shoot metal contents in ryegrass, and significant improvements in plant growth, certain microbial bioindicators were unresponsive to metal immobilization success brought about by the addition of Fe-Mn nodules. Among microbial bioindicators studied, community-level physiological profiling, microbial biomass carbon, and basal respiration were sensitive indicators of metal immobilization success, whereas the number of saprotrophic, oligotrophic, and Fe-oxidizing bacteria and fungi, the biomass of bacteria and fungi, and enzymatic activity were less robust indicators. Interestingly, the correlations between different microbial responses measured were weak or even negative. Some microbial responses also exhibited negative correlations with plant biomass. These findings underscore the need for further research on comparative evaluations of plants and microorganisms as reliable indicators of metal immobilization efficacy in polluted environments.

• Klíčová slova
• Ecotoxicity, Heavy metals, Microorganisms, Phytoremediation, Phytostabilization, Phytotoxicity,
• MeSH
• Bacteria metabolismus   MeSH
• biodegradace MeSH
• biologický monitoring metody   MeSH
• houby metabolismus   MeSH
• jílek * metabolismus   MeSH
• kovy metabolismus   analýza   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * analýza   metabolismus   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• půda * chemie   MeSH
• půdní mikrobiologie * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Finsko MeSH
• Rusko MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kovy MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * MeSH
• půda * MeSH

The uptake of nickel (Ni) by Asteraceae/Cichorioideae species Cichorium intybus, Leontodon hispidus and Hieracium aurantiacum exposed to Ni (0.3 or 30 μM) over 14 days and subsequent changes of metabolites were compared in order to identify their phytoaccumulation potential. Hieracium contained the most Ni (194 and 1558 μg Ni/g DW at 30 μM Ni in shoots and roots) but had unchanged amount of antioxidants (vitamin C and thiols) in the shoots and an elevated amount in the roots, which may be the reason for the absence of visible damage. On the contrary, Leontodon reacted by a decrease in antioxidants to an excess of Ni, which can be related to enhanced oxidative stress (an increase in ROS and a decrease in nitric oxide detected by fluorescence microscopy). All roots were anatomically in the secondary state and Ni-induced cell wall thickening (i.e. lignin/suberin deposition) was most visible in Hieracium roots, which also contained 2-times more Ni than the other species. Among essential elements, mainly Fe accumulation was affected by Ni excess. The content of soluble phenols increased while organic acids (malic and citric) decreased sometimes extensively (up to 90%) in individual species. PCA analyses showed that especially ascorbic acid, thiols and phenols affect the separation in the shoots especially with regard to applied concentration of Ni, while these metabolites in the roots clearly separated the species (Cichorium from the others). The data show the highest tolerance to Ni in Hieracium, but the highest phytoaccumulation of Ni was found in Cichorium (626 μg Ni/plant or 122 μg Ni/shoot at a dose of 30 μM Ni).

• Klíčová slova
• Antioxidants, Bioaccumulation, Heavy metals, Phytoremediation, Reactive oxygen species,
• MeSH
• antioxidancia * metabolismus   MeSH
• Asteraceae * metabolismus   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin * metabolismus   MeSH
• kyselina askorbová metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu metabolismus   MeSH
• nikl * metabolismus   MeSH
• oxidační stres * účinky léků   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• sulfhydrylové sloučeniny metabolismus   MeSH
• výhonky rostlin metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antioxidancia * MeSH
• kyselina askorbová MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu MeSH
• nikl * MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku MeSH
• sulfhydrylové sloučeniny MeSH

Cadmium contamination can lead to a decrease in crop yield and quality. However, Cd-tolerant rice can improve rice resistance genes, improve crop tolerance to heavy metals, and protect plants from oxidative damage. In this study, Japonica rice: Chunyou 987 and Indica rice: Chuanzhong you 3607 were used to reveal the molecular response mechanism of Cd-tolerant rice under cadmium concentration of 3 mg/kg through comparative experiments combined with physiology and proteomics. The results showed that compared with indica rice, japonica rice showed more robust resistance to Cd stress and effectively retained many Cd ions in roots. Moreover, it enhanced its enzymatic and non-enzymatic anti-oxidative stress mechanism, which increased the activities of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) by 47.37%, 21.75%, and 55.42%, respectively. The contents of non-enzymatic antioxidant substances ascorbic acid (AsA), glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), proline (PRO), anthocyanins (OPC), and flavonoids were increased by 25.32%, 42.67%, 21.43%, 50.81%, 33.23%, and 72.16%, respectively. Through proteomics analysis, it was found that in response to the damage caused by cadmium stress, Japonica rice makes Photosynthesis functional proteins (psbO and PetH), Photosynthesis antenna proteins (LHCA and ASCAB9), Carbon fixation functional proteins (PEPC and OsAld), Porphyrin metabolism functional proteins (OsRCCR1 and SE5), Glyoxylate and dicarboxylate The expression of metabolism functional proteins (CATC and GLO4.) and Glutathione metabolism functional proteins (APX8 and OsGSTU13) were significantly up-regulated, which stimulated the antioxidant stress mechanism and photosynthetic system, and constructed a robust energy supply system to ensure the normal metabolic activities of life. Strengthening the mechanisms of plant homeostasis. In summary, this study revealed the molecular mechanism of tolerance to Cd stress in japonica rice, and the results of this study will provide a possible way to improve Cd-resistant rice seedlings.

• Klíčová slova
• Antioxidation, Cd contamination, Energy metabolism, Oryza sativa, Proteome,
• MeSH
• antioxidancia metabolismus   MeSH
• fotosyntéza účinky léků   MeSH
• fyziologický stres účinky léků   MeSH
• kadmium * toxicita   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin účinky léků   MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * toxicita   MeSH
• oxidační stres * účinky léků   MeSH
• proteomika * MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• rýže (rod) * účinky léků   genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• superoxiddismutasa metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antioxidancia MeSH
• kadmium * MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny MeSH
• superoxiddismutasa MeSH

BACKGROUND: Several WRKY transcription factors (TFs), including CaWRKY6, CaWRKY22, CaWRKY27, and CaWRKY40 are known to govern the resistance of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants to Ralstonia solanacearum infestation (RSI) and other abiotic stresses. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes remain elusive. METHODS: This study functionally described CaWRKY3 for its role in pepper immunity against RSI. The roles of phytohormones in mediating the expression levels of CaWRKY3 were investigated by subjecting pepper plants to 1 mM salicylic acid (SA), 100 µM methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and 100 µM ethylene (ETH) at 4-leaf stage. A virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) approach based on the Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) was used to silence CaWRKY3 in pepper, and transiently over-expressed to infer its role against RSI. RESULTS: Phytohormones and RSI increased CaWRKY3 transcription. The transcriptions of defense-associated marker genes, including CaNPR1, CaPR1, CaDEF1, and CaHIR1 were decreased in VIGS experiment, which made pepper less resistant to RSI. Significant hypersensitive (HR)-like cell death, H2O2 buildup, and transcriptional up-regulation of immunological marker genes were noticed in pepper when CaWRKY3 was transiently overexpressed. Transcriptional activity of CaWRKY3 was increased with overexpression of CaWRKY6, CaWRKY22, CaWRKY27, and CaWRKY40, and vice versa. In contrast, Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) was easily repelled by the innate immune system of transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana that overexpressed CaWRKY3. The transcriptions of defense-related marker genes like AtPR1, AtPR2, and AtNPR1 were increased in CaWRKY3-overexpressing transgenic A. thaliana plants. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that CaWRKY3 favorably regulates phytohormone-mediated synergistic signaling, which controls cell death in plant and immunity of pepper plant against bacterial infections.

• Klíčová slova
• CaWRKY3, Capsicum annum, Ralstonia solanacearum, Immunity, Transcription factor,
• MeSH
• acetáty farmakologie   MeSH
• Capsicum * genetika   imunologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• cyklopentany metabolismus   MeSH
• ethyleny metabolismus   MeSH
• imunita rostlin * MeSH
• kyselina salicylová metabolismus   MeSH
• nemoci rostlin * mikrobiologie   imunologie   genetika   MeSH
• odolnost vůči nemocem genetika   MeSH
• oxylipiny metabolismus   MeSH
• Ralstonia solanacearum * fyziologie   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u rostlin * MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin * metabolismus   MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• transkripční faktory * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• umlčování genů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• acetáty MeSH
• cyklopentany MeSH
• ethylene MeSH Prohlížeč
• ethyleny MeSH
• kyselina salicylová MeSH
• methyl jasmonate MeSH Prohlížeč
• oxylipiny MeSH
• regulátory růstu rostlin * MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny * MeSH
• transkripční faktory * MeSH

T-DNA transformation is prevalent in Arabidopsis research and has expanded to a broad range of crops and model plants. While major progress has been made in optimizing the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation process for various species, a variety of pitfalls associated with the T-DNA insertion may lead to the misinterpretation of T-DNA mutant analysis. Indeed, secondary mutagenesis either on the integration site or elsewhere in the genome, together with epigenetic interactions between T-DNA inserts or frequent genomic rearrangements, can be tricky to differentiate from the effect of the knockout of the gene of interest. These are mainly the case for genomic rearrangements that become balanced in filial generations without consequential phenotypical defects, which may be confusing particularly for studies that aim to investigate fertility and gametogenesis. As a cautionary note to the plant research community studying gametogenesis, we here report an overview of the consequences of T-DNA-induced secondary mutagenesis with emphasis on the genomic imbalance on gametogenesis. Additionally, we present a simple guideline to evaluate the T-DNA-mutagenized transgenic lines to decrease the risk of faulty analysis with minimal experimental effort.

• Klíčová slova
• Arabidopsis, T-DNA, chromosome, chromosome rearrangement, gametophyte, meiosis, reproduction, translocation,
• MeSH
• Arabidopsis genetika   MeSH
• DNA bakterií * genetika   MeSH
• geneticky modifikované rostliny genetika   MeSH
• mutageneze MeSH
• rozmnožování genetika   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA bakterií * MeSH
• T-DNA MeSH Prohlížeč

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Rubus ser. Glandulosi provides a unique model of geographical parthenogenesis on a homoploid (2n = 4x) level. We aim to characterize evolutionary and phylogeographical patterns in this taxon and shed light on the geographical differentiation of apomicts and sexuals. Ultimately, we aim to evaluate the importance of phylogeography in the formation of geographical parthenogenesis. METHODS: Rubus ser. Glandulosi was sampled across its Eurasian range together with other co-occurring Rubus taxa (587 individuals in total). Double-digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) and modelling of suitable climate were used for evolutionary inferences. KEY RESULTS: Six ancestral species were identified that contributed to the contemporary gene pool of R. ser. Glandulosi. Sexuals were introgressed from Rubus dolichocarpus and Rubus moschus in West Asia and from Rubus ulmifolius agg., Rubus canescens and Rubus incanescens in Europe, whereas apomicts were characterized by alleles of Rubus subsect. Rubus. Gene flow between sexuals and apomicts was also detected, as was occasional hybridization with other taxa. CONCLUSIONS: We hypothesize that sexuals survived the last glacial period in several large southern refugia, whereas apomicts were mostly restricted to southern France, whence they quickly recolonized Central and Western Europe. The secondary contact of sexuals and apomicts was probably the principal factor that established geographical parthenogenesis in R. ser. Glandulosi. Sexual populations are not impoverished in genetic diversity along their borderline with apomicts, and maladaptive population genetic processes probably did not shape the geographical patterns.

• Klíčová slova
• Rubus subgen. Rubus, Apomixis, ddRADseq, geographical parthenogenesis, introgression, private alleles,
• MeSH
• apomixie genetika   MeSH
• biologická evoluce MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• fylogeografie * MeSH
• genetická variace MeSH
• partenogeneze genetika   MeSH
• Rosaceae * genetika   fyziologie   MeSH
• tok genů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Asie MeSH
• Evropa MeSH