Plant, Algae and Fungi Cell Biology: State-of-the-Art and Perspectives

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant, Algae and Fungi Cell Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2024) | Viewed by 4672

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, 625 Agriculture Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2010, USA
Interests: molecular regulation of plant growth and development; postharvest biology and fruit ripening; molecular engineering of fruits to enhance quality attributes; modulating heat stress to enhance crop productivity; production of vaccines in plants
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Guest Editor
Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705-2350, USA
Interests: polyamines; hormones; senescence; stress biology; photosystem II; fruit ripening; sustainable agriculture; model plants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art of plant, algae and fungi cell biology. We invite research papers that will consolidate our understanding in this area. The Special Issue will publish full research articles and comprehensive reviews. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following research areas:

  • Plant, algae and fungal cell biology;
  • Physiology;
  • Biochemistry and biophysics;
  • Cellular and molecular biology, genetics, and environmental biology;
  • Biotechnology;
  • Photosynthesis;
  • C3 and CAM photosynthesis;
  • Abiotic and biotic stresses;
  • Fatty acids;
  • Lipids;
  • Heavy metal;
  • Genetics;
  • Gene transformation;
  • Genetic diversity;
  • Plant–fungal interactions;
  • Symbiosis;
  • Viruses and signal transduction;
  • Secondary metabolism;
  • Agrobacterium;
  • Plant-algal-fungal for food culture, biofuel, pharmaceuticals;
  • Crop productivity, and etc.

Prof. Dr. Avtar K. Handa
Prof. Dr. Autar K. Mattoo
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 7783 KiB  
Article
Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Suppresses the Antiviral Response of the Insect Vector, Frankliniella occidentalis, by Elevating an Immunosuppressive C18 Oxylipin Level Using Its Virulent Factor, NSs
by Niayesh Shahmohammadi, Falguni Khan, Gahyeon Jin, Minji Kwon, Donghee Lee and Yonggyun Kim
Cells 2024, 13(16), 1377; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13161377 - 19 Aug 2024
Viewed by 642
Abstract
Orthotospovirus tomatomaculae (tomato spotted wilt virus, TSWV) is transmitted by the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis. Epoxyoctadecamonoenoic acids (EpOMEs) function as immune-suppressive factors, particularly in insects infected by viral pathogens. These oxylipins are produced by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) and are degraded [...] Read more.
Orthotospovirus tomatomaculae (tomato spotted wilt virus, TSWV) is transmitted by the western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis. Epoxyoctadecamonoenoic acids (EpOMEs) function as immune-suppressive factors, particularly in insects infected by viral pathogens. These oxylipins are produced by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) and are degraded by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that TSWV modulates the EpOME level in the thrips to suppress antiviral responses and enhance its replication. TSWV infection significantly elevated both 9,10-EpOME and 12,13-EpOME levels. Following TSWV infection, the larvae displayed apoptosis in the midgut along with the upregulated expression of four caspase genes. However, the addition of EpOME to the viral treatment notably reduced apoptosis and downregulated caspase gene expressions, which led to a marked increase in TSWV titers. The CYP and sEH genes of F. occidentalis were identified, and their expression manipulation using RNA interference (RNAi) treatments led to significant alternations in the insect’s immune responses and TSWV viral titers. To ascertain which viral factor influences the host EpOME levels, specialized RNAi treatments targeting genes encoded by TSWV were administered to larvae infected with TSWV. These treatments demonstrated that NSS expression is pivotal in manipulating the genes involved in EpOME metabolism. These results indicate that NSs of TSWV are crucially linked with the elevation of host insect EpOME levels and play a key role in suppressing the antiviral responses of F. occidentalis. Full article
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31 pages, 16281 KiB  
Article
Hyperspectral and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analyses of Comparative Leaf Surfaces Reveal Cellular Influences on Leaf Optical Properties in Tradescantia Plants
by Renan Falcioni, Werner Camargos Antunes, Roney Berti de Oliveira, Marcelo Luiz Chicati, José Alexandre M. Demattê and Marcos Rafael Nanni
Cells 2024, 13(11), 952; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells13110952 - 30 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 885
Abstract
The differential effects of cellular and ultrastructural characteristics on the optical properties of adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces in the genus Tradescantia highlight the intricate relationships between cellular arrangement and pigment distribution in the plant cells. We examined hyperspectral and chlorophyll a fluorescence [...] Read more.
The differential effects of cellular and ultrastructural characteristics on the optical properties of adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces in the genus Tradescantia highlight the intricate relationships between cellular arrangement and pigment distribution in the plant cells. We examined hyperspectral and chlorophyll a fluorescence (ChlF) kinetics using spectroradiometers and optical and electron microscopy techniques. The leaves were analysed for their spectral properties and cellular makeup. The biochemical compounds were measured and correlated with the biophysical and ultrastructural features. The main findings showed that the top and bottom leaf surfaces had different amounts and patterns of pigments, especially anthocyanins, flavonoids, total phenolics, chlorophyll-carotenoids, and cell and organelle structures, as revealed by the hyperspectral vegetation index (HVI). These differences were further elucidated by the correlation coefficients, which influence the optical signatures of the leaves. Additionally, ChlF kinetics varied between leaf surfaces, correlating with VIS-NIR-SWIR bands through distinct cellular structures and pigment concentrations in the hypodermis cells. We confirmed that the unique optical properties of each leaf surface arise not only from pigmentation but also from complex cellular arrangements and structural adaptations. Some of the factors that affect how leaves reflect light are the arrangement of chloroplasts, thylakoid membranes, vacuoles, and the relative size of the cells themselves. These findings improve our knowledge of the biophysical and biochemical reasons for leaf optical diversity, and indicate possible implications for photosynthetic efficiency and stress adaptation under different environmental conditions in the mesophyll cells of Tradescantia plants. Full article
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26 pages, 4770 KiB  
Article
A Rapid Alkalinization Factor-like Peptide EaF82 Impairs Tapetum Degeneration during Pollen Development through Induced ATP Deficiency
by Chiu-Yueh Hung, Farooqahmed S. Kittur, Keely N. Wharton, Makendra L. Umstead, D’Shawna B. Burwell, Martinique Thomas, Qi Qi, Jianhui Zhang, Carla E. Oldham, Kent O. Burkey, Jianjun Chen and Jiahua Xie
Cells 2023, 12(11), 1542; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12111542 - 4 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2496
Abstract
In plants, the timely degeneration of tapetal cells is essential for providing nutrients and other substances to support pollen development. Rapid alkalinization factors (RALFs) are small, cysteine-rich peptides known to be involved in various aspects of plant development and growth, as well as [...] Read more.
In plants, the timely degeneration of tapetal cells is essential for providing nutrients and other substances to support pollen development. Rapid alkalinization factors (RALFs) are small, cysteine-rich peptides known to be involved in various aspects of plant development and growth, as well as defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the functions of most of them remain unknown, while no RALF has been reported to involve tapetum degeneration. In this study, we demonstrated that a novel cysteine-rich peptide, EaF82, isolated from shy-flowering ‘Golden Pothos’ (Epipremnum aureum) plants, is a RALF-like peptide and displays alkalinizing activity. Its heterologous expression in Arabidopsis delayed tapetum degeneration and reduced pollen production and seed yields. RNAseq, RT-qPCR, and biochemical analyses showed that overexpression of EaF82 downregulated a group of genes involved in pH changes, cell wall modifications, tapetum degeneration, and pollen maturation, as well as seven endogenous Arabidopsis RALF genes, and decreased proteasome activity and ATP levels. Yeast two-hybrid screening identified AKIN10, a subunit of energy-sensing SnRK1 kinase, as its interacting partner. Our study reveals a possible regulatory role for RALF peptide in tapetum degeneration and suggests that EaF82 action may be mediated through AKIN10 leading to the alteration of transcriptome and energy metabolism, thereby causing ATP deficiency and impairing pollen development. Full article
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