Tree mortality is a key factor influencing forest functions and dynamics, but our understanding of the mechanisms leading to mortality and the associated changes in tree growth rates are still limited. We compiled a new pan-continental tree-ring width database from sites where both dead and living trees were sampled (2970 dead and 4224 living trees from 190 sites, including 36 species), and compared early and recent growth rates between trees that died and those that survived a given mortality event. We observed a decrease in radial growth before death in ca. 84% of the mortality events. The extent and duration of these reductions were highly variable (1-100 years in 96% of events) due to the complex interactions among study species and the source(s) of mortality. Strong and long-lasting declines were found for gymnosperms, shade- and drought-tolerant species, and trees that died from competition. Angiosperms and trees that died due to biotic attacks (especially bark-beetles) typically showed relatively small and short-term growth reductions. Our analysis did not highlight any universal trade-off between early growth and tree longevity within a species, although this result may also reflect high variability in sampling design among sites. The intersite and interspecific variability in growth patterns before mortality provides valuable information on the nature of the mortality process, which is consistent with our understanding of the physiological mechanisms leading to mortality. Abrupt changes in growth immediately before death can be associated with generalized hydraulic failure and/or bark-beetle attack, while long-term decrease in growth may be associated with a gradual decline in hydraulic performance coupled with depletion in carbon reserves. Our results imply that growth-based mortality algorithms may be a powerful tool for predicting gymnosperm mortality induced by chronic stress, but not necessarily so for angiosperms and in case of intense drought or bark-beetle outbreaks.

• Klíčová slova
• angiosperms, death, drought, growth, gymnosperms, pathogens, ring-width, tree mortality,
• MeSH
• brouci * MeSH
• fyziologický stres MeSH
• období sucha * MeSH
• stromy růst a vývoj   MeSH
• uhlík MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• uhlík MeSH

Trees are natural objects, where deviations through the branches amplify geometric data for 3D representation and bring challenges to various applications dealing with 3D models, such as compression, visualization, symmetry detection, and radiative transfer simulation. This data article describes dataset of approximately symmetric 3D tree models with manually identified predominant symmetry plane in each tree model. Parameters for procedural tree synthesis were manually adjusted to produce approximately bilaterally symmetric trees which are grouped into species with distinct features. In the last step, each tree was manually annotated with approximate symmetry plane. This dataset contains geometric data of branches, manually defined parameters for tree synthesis method, point clouds, and a division plane with a score of bilateral symmetry strength. The generated trees can be used as benchmark data for verification of approximate reflectional symmetry detection methods. Additionally, generated 3D tree models can be used for other applications requiring pregenerated trees, such as compression of tree models, instancing, decimation methods, and radiative transfer simulation and modeling.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D tree modeling, Approximate symmetry, Symmetry detection, Tree synthesis,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The prospective uses of tree gum polysaccharides and their nanostructures in various aspects of food, water, energy, biotechnology, environment and medicine industries, have garnered a great deal of attention recently. In addition to extensive applications of tree gums in food, there are substantial non-food applications of these commercial gums, which have gained widespread attention due to their availability, structural diversity and remarkable properties as 'green' bio-based renewable materials. Tree gums are obtainable as natural polysaccharides from various tree genera possessing exceptional properties, including their renewable, biocompatible, biodegradable, and non-toxic nature and their ability to undergo easy chemical modifications. This review focuses on non-food applications of several important commercially available gums (arabic, karaya, tragacanth, ghatti and kondagogu) for the greener synthesis and stabilization of metal/metal oxide NPs, production of electrospun fibers, environmental bioremediation, bio-catalysis, biosensors, coordination complexes of metal-hydrogels, and for antimicrobial and biomedical applications. Furthermore, polysaccharides acquired from botanical, seaweed, animal, and microbial origins are briefly compared with the characteristics of tree gum exudates.

• Klíčová slova
• Antibacterial, Biomedical, Biosensors, Environmental bioremediation, Greener synthesis, Hydrogel, Nanoparticles and nanofibers, Tree gums,
• MeSH
• antiinfekční látky chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• biodegradace MeSH
• biomedicínské technologie MeSH
• biosenzitivní techniky MeSH
• hydrogely metabolismus   MeSH
• nanostruktury MeSH
• nanotechnologie * MeSH
• nanovlákna chemie   MeSH
• polysacharidy metabolismus   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• rostlinné exsudáty chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• rostlinné gumy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• stromy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• technologie zelené chemie MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antiinfekční látky MeSH
• hydrogely MeSH
• polysacharidy MeSH
• rostlinné exsudáty MeSH
• rostlinné gumy MeSH

BACKGROUND: Eukaryotic gene expression is controlled by a number of RNA-binding proteins (RBP), such as the proteins from the Puf (Pumilio and FBF) superfamily (PufSF). These proteins bind to RNA via multiple Puf repeat domains, each of which specifically recognizes a single RNA base. Recently, three diversified PufSF proteins have been described in model organisms, each of which is responsible for the maturation of ribosomal RNA or the translational regulation of mRNAs; however, less is known about the role of these proteins across eukaryotic diversity. RESULTS: Here, we investigated the distribution and function of PufSF RBPs in the tree of eukaryotes. We determined that the following PufSF proteins are universally conserved across eukaryotes and can be broadly classified into three groups: (i) Nop9 orthologues, which participate in the nucleolar processing of immature 18S rRNA; (ii) 'classical' Pufs, which control the translation of mRNA; and (iii) PUM3 orthologues, which are involved in the maturation of 7S rRNA. In nearly all eukaryotes, the rRNA maturation proteins, Nop9 and PUM3, are retained as a single copy, while mRNA effectors ('classical' Pufs) underwent multiple lineage-specific expansions. We propose that the variation in number of 'classical' Pufs relates to the size of the transcriptome and thus the potential mRNA targets. We further distinguished full set of PufSF proteins in divergent metamonad Giardia intestinalis and initiated their cellular and biochemical characterization. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) already contained all three types of PufSF proteins and that 'classical' Pufs then underwent lineage-specific expansions.

• Klíčová slova
• Giardia intestinalis, LECA, Puf superfamily proteins, RNA processing, RNA-binding protein,
• MeSH
• Eukaryota genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• messenger RNA metabolismus   MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• proteosyntéza * MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S metabolismus   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• sekvenční seřazení MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• messenger RNA MeSH
• proteiny vázající RNA MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S MeSH

Rhizobium sp. isolated from the root nodules of Erythrina indica Lamk., a leguminous tree, produced large amounts of indoleacetic acid (IAA) from tryptophan. L-Tryptophan (2 mg/ mL) was preferred to DL-tryptophan for IAA synthesis. Attempts were made to optimize the cultural requirements for an accelerated IAA production. An enrichment of the carbon-free incubation medium with maltose (1 %), MnSO4 x H2O (5 microg/mL), and Triton X-100 (100 ppm) promoted the synthesized IAA content of the medium by 480 %.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Mycorrhizas are known to have a positive impact on plant growth and ability to resist major biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the metabolic alterations underlying mycorrhizal symbiosis are still understudied. By using metabolomics and transcriptomics approaches, cork oak roots colonized by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius were compared with non-colonized roots. Results show that compounds putatively corresponding to carbohydrates, organic acids, tannins, long-chain fatty acids and monoacylglycerols, were depleted in ectomycorrhizal cork oak colonized roots. Conversely, non-proteogenic amino acids, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and several putative defense-related compounds, including oxylipin-family compounds, terpenoids and B6 vitamers were induced in mycorrhizal roots. Transcriptomic analysis suggests the involvement of GABA in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis through increased synthesis and inhibition of degradation in mycorrhizal roots. Results from this global metabolomics analysis suggest decreases in root metabolites which are common components of exudates, and in compounds related to root external protective layers which could facilitate plant-fungal contact and enhance symbiosis. Root metabolic pathways involved in defense against stress were induced in ectomycorrhizal roots that could be involved in a plant mechanism to avoid uncontrolled growth of the fungal symbiont in the root apoplast. Several of the identified symbiosis-specific metabolites, such as GABA, may help to understand how ectomycorrhizal fungi such as P. tinctorius benefit their host plants.

• MeSH
• Basidiomycota metabolismus   MeSH
• dub (rod) metabolismus   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• GABA biosyntéza   MeSH
• kořeny rostlin metabolismus   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• metabolické sítě a dráhy MeSH
• metabolomika MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u rostlin MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• symbióza MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• GABA MeSH

Trypanosomatids of the genera Angomonas and Strigomonas (subfamily Strigomonadinae) have long been known to contain intracellular beta-proteobacteria, which provide them with many important nutrients such as haem, essential amino acids and vitamins. Recently, Kentomonas sorsogonicus, a divergent member of Strigomonadinae, has been described. Herein, we characterize the genome of its endosymbiont, Candidatus Kinetoplastibacterium sorsogonicusi. This genome is completely syntenic with those of other known Ca. Kinetoplastibacterium spp., but more reduced in size (~742 kb, compared with 810-833 kb, respectively). Gene losses are not concentrated in any hot-spots but are instead distributed throughout the genome. The most conspicuous loss is that of the haem-synthesis pathway. For long, removing haemin from the culture medium has been a standard procedure in cultivating trypanosomatids isolated from insects; continued growth was considered as an evidence of endosymbiont presence. However, we demonstrate that, despite bearing the endosymbiont, K. sorsogonicus cannot grow in culture without haem. Thus, the traditional test cannot be taken as a reliable criterion for the absence or presence of endosymbionts in trypanosomatid flagellates. It remains unclear why the ability to synthesize such an essential compound was lost in Ca. K. sorsogonicusi, whereas all other known bacterial endosymbionts of trypanosomatids retain them.

• Klíčová slova
• Endosymbiosis, Trypanosomatidae., genome evolution, genome reduction, haem synthesis,
• MeSH
• Betaproteobacteria účinky léků   genetika   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• biosyntetické dráhy MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genom bakteriální * MeSH
• hem metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• symbióza * MeSH
• Trypanosomatina mikrobiologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• hem MeSH

BACKGROUND: Tropical rainforests are frequently limited by soil nutrient availability. However, the response of the metabolic phenotypic plasticity of trees to an increase of soil nutrient availabilities is poorly understood. We expected that increases in the ability of a nutrient that limits some plant processes should be detected by corresponding changes in plant metabolome profile related to such processes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We studied the foliar metabolome of saplings of three abundant tree species in a 15 year field NPK fertilization experiment in a Panamanian rainforest. The largest differences were among species and explained 75% of overall metabolome variation. The saplings of the large canopy species, Tetragastris panamensis, had the lowest concentrations of all identified amino acids and the highest concentrations of most identified secondary compounds. The saplings of the "mid canopy" species, Alseis blackiana, had the highest concentrations of amino acids coming from the biosynthesis pathways of glycerate-3P, oxaloacetate and α-ketoglutarate, and the saplings of the low canopy species, Heisteria concinna, had the highest concentrations of amino acids coming from the pyruvate synthesis pathways. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The changes in metabolome provided strong evidence that different nutrients limit different species in different ways. With increasing P availability, the two canopy species shifted their metabolome towards larger investment in protection mechanisms, whereas with increasing N availability, the sub-canopy species increased its primary metabolism. The results highlighted the proportional distinct use of different nutrients by different species and the resulting different metabolome profiles in this high diversity community are consistent with the ecological niche theory.

• MeSH
• deštný prales * MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• listy rostlin růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• Magnoliopsida růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• metabolom * MeSH
• průmyslová hnojiva * analýza   MeSH
• půda chemie   MeSH
• stromy růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• tropické klima MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• průmyslová hnojiva * MeSH
• půda MeSH

Disturbances alter biodiversity via their specific characteristics, including severity and extent in the landscape, which act at different temporal and spatial scales. Biodiversity response to disturbance also depends on the community characteristics and habitat requirements of species. Untangling the mechanistic interplay of these factors has guided disturbance ecology for decades, generating mixed scientific evidence of biodiversity responses to disturbance. Understanding the impact of natural disturbances on biodiversity is increasingly important due to human-induced changes in natural disturbance regimes. In many areas, major natural forest disturbances, such as wildfires, windstorms, and insect outbreaks, are becoming more frequent, intense, severe, and widespread due to climate change and land-use change. Conversely, the suppression of natural disturbances threatens disturbance-dependent biota. Using a meta-analytic approach, we analysed a global data set (with most sampling concentrated in temperate and boreal secondary forests) of species assemblages of 26 taxonomic groups, including plants, animals, and fungi collected from forests affected by wildfires, windstorms, and insect outbreaks. The overall effect of natural disturbances on α-diversity did not differ significantly from zero, but some taxonomic groups responded positively to disturbance, while others tended to respond negatively. Disturbance was beneficial for taxonomic groups preferring conditions associated with open canopies (e.g. hymenopterans and hoverflies), whereas ground-dwelling groups and/or groups typically associated with shady conditions (e.g. epigeic lichens and mycorrhizal fungi) were more likely to be negatively impacted by disturbance. Across all taxonomic groups, the highest α-diversity in disturbed forest patches occurred under moderate disturbance severity, i.e. with approximately 55% of trees killed by disturbance. We further extended our meta-analysis by applying a unified diversity concept based on Hill numbers to estimate α-diversity changes in different taxonomic groups across a gradient of disturbance severity measured at the stand scale and incorporating other disturbance features. We found that disturbance severity negatively affected diversity for Hill number q = 0 but not for q = 1 and q = 2, indicating that diversity-disturbance relationships are shaped by species relative abundances. Our synthesis of α-diversity was extended by a synthesis of disturbance-induced change in species assemblages, and revealed that disturbance changes the β-diversity of multiple taxonomic groups, including some groups that were not affected at the α-diversity level (birds and woody plants). Finally, we used mixed rarefaction/extrapolation to estimate biodiversity change as a function of the proportion of forests that were disturbed, i.e. the disturbance extent measured at the landscape scale. The comparison of intact and naturally disturbed forests revealed that both types of forests provide habitat for unique species assemblages, whereas species diversity in the mixture of disturbed and undisturbed forests peaked at intermediate values of disturbance extent in the simulated landscape. Hence, the relationship between α-diversity and disturbance severity in disturbed forest stands was strikingly similar to the relationship between species richness and disturbance extent in a landscape consisting of both disturbed and undisturbed forest habitats. This result suggests that both moderate disturbance severity and moderate disturbance extent support the highest levels of biodiversity in contemporary forest landscapes.

• Klíčová slova
• disturbance extent, disturbance severity, diversity-disturbance relationship, forest communities, intermediate disturbance hypothesis, natural disturbance, α-diversity, β-diversity,
• MeSH
• biodiverzita * MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• lesy * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ptáci MeSH
• rostliny MeSH
• stromy MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• metaanalýza MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

The role of the actin cytoskeleton in somatic embryo development was investigated using latrunculin B and cytochalasin D. Brief treatments (1h) with either drug at the start of maturation fragmented the actin in suspensor cells and/or depolymerized actin filaments in meristematic cells. The drugs targeted different cells: latB primarily affected the suspensor cells, but cchD damaged both suspensor and meristematic cells. Lethal damage to the meristematic and suspensor cells was observed when the drugs were applied throughout the maturation period, although the severity of this effect depended on their concentrations. The drugs' effects on the yield of mature somatic embryos were investigated by applying them to embryo cultures throughout the maturation period or for one week at three different points in the maturation process: immediately prior to the start of maturation, during the first week of maturation, and during the fourth week of maturation. The strongest effects were observed when the drugs were applied at the start of maturation. Under these conditions, latB destroyed the suspensors, eliminating the underdeveloped embryos that depend on them. This accelerated the development of embryos that were capable of separating from the suspensors. Thus, while the total number of embryos at the end of the maturation period was lower than in untreated control cultures, the surviving mature embryos were of high quality. cchD treatment at the start of maturation strongly inhibited embryo development. Drug treatment at the end of the maturation period did not significantly affect embryo development: latB caused no change in the yield of somatic embryos, but cchD treatment increased the number of malformed embryos compared to untreated controls.

• Klíčová slova
• Actin, Cytoskeleton, Picea abies, Somatic embryogenesis,
• MeSH
• aktiny antagonisté a inhibitory   metabolismus   MeSH
• bicyklické sloučeniny heterocyklické farmakologie   MeSH
• cytochalasin D farmakologie   MeSH
• inhibitory syntézy nukleových kyselin aplikace a dávkování   farmakologie   MeSH
• konfokální mikroskopie MeSH
• semena rostlinná účinky léků   embryologie   MeSH
• smrk účinky léků   embryologie   MeSH
• somatická embryogeneze rostlin * MeSH
• thiazolidiny farmakologie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aktiny MeSH
• bicyklické sloučeniny heterocyklické MeSH
• cytochalasin D MeSH
• inhibitory syntézy nukleových kyselin MeSH
• latrunculin B MeSH Prohlížeč
• thiazolidiny MeSH