Role of bundle sheath conductance in sustaining photosynthesis competence in sugarcane plants under nitrogen deficiency.

The role of bundle sheath conductance (g) in sustaining sugarcane photosynthesis under nitrogen deficiency was investigated. Sugarcane was grown under different levels of nitrogen supply and g was estimated using simultaneous measurements of leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence at 21% or 2% [O] and varying air [CO] and light intensity. Maximum rates of PEPC carboxylation, Rubisco carboxylation, and ATP production increased with an increase in leaf nitrogen concentration (LNC) from 1 to 3 g m.

Correlations between lignin content and structural robustness in plants revealed by X-ray ptychography.

Lignin is a heterogeneous aromatic polymer responsible for cell wall stiffness and protection from pathogen attack. However, lignin represents a bottleneck to biomass degradation due to its recalcitrance related to the natural cell wall resistance to release sugars for fermentation or further processing. A biological approach involving genetics and molecular biology was used to disrupt lignin pathway synthesis and decrease lignin deposition.

The Role of Non-Mycorrhizal Fungi in Germination of the Mycoheterotrophic Orchid Cogn.

Endophytic fungi are those that inhabit within organs and tissues without causing damage, while mycorrhizal fungi develop hyphal complexes called pelotons within cortical cells of orchid roots. Although abundant and frequent in all plant organs, the role of endophytic fungi has been neglected in relation to orchid's early development. Cogn.

Infrared Nanospectroscopy Reveals the Chemical Nature of Pit Membranes in Water-Conducting Cells of the Plant Xylem.

In the xylem of angiosperm plants, microscopic pits through the secondary cell walls connect the water-conducting vessels. Cellulosic meshes originated from primary walls, and middle lamella between adjacent vessels, called the pit membrane, separates one conduit from another. The intricate structure of the nano-sized pores in pit membranes enables the passage of water under negative pressure without hydraulic failure due to obstruction by gas bubbles (i.