Casano, L.; Del Campo, E.; García Breijo, FJ.; Reig Armiñana, J.; Del Hoyo, A.; Guéra, A.... (2011)

t r a c tPlants of one evergreen oak (Quercus ilex) and three deciduous oaks (Q. faginea, with small leaves; Q. pyrenaica and Q. robur, with large leaves) were exposed both to filtered air and to enhanced ozone levels in Open-Top Chambers. Q. faginea and Q. pyrenaica were studied for the first time. Based on visible injury, gas exchange, chlorophyll content and biomass responses, Q. pyrenaica was the most sensitive species, and Q. ilex was the most tolerant, followed by Q. faginea. Functional leaf traits of the species were related to differences in sensitivity, while accumulated ozone flux via stomata (POD 1.6 ) partly contributed to the observed differences. For risk assessment of Mediterranean vegetation, the diversity of responses detected in this study should be taken into account, applying appropriate critical levels.

Elsevier Cajuste, JF.; Gonzalez-Candelas, L.; Veyrat, A.; García-Breijo, F.; Reig Armiñana, J.; Lafuente, MT. (2010) The effect of ethylene (2 L L −1 ) on total and soft epicuticular wax content and wax morphology has been investigated in mature 'Navelate' (Citrus sinensis, L. Osbeck) oranges held under non-stressful environmental conditions (22• C and constant high relative humidity (90-95% RH)). In addition, the objective of the study was to understand whether the ethylene-induced changes in epicuticular wax might participate in the beneficial effect of ethylene reducing non-chilling peel pitting, by modifying peel water, osmotic or turgor potential, or disease incidence caused by Penicillium digitatum (Pers.:Fr.) Sacc. Ethylene increased total and soft epicuticular wax content in 'Navelate' fruit and induced structural changes in surface wax that might be related to the formation of new waxes. Changes in epicuticular wax morphology, but not in its content, might be involved in the protective role of ethylene reducing non-chilling peel pitting, although the beneficial effect of the hormone is not related to water stress. Cell water and turgor potentials in freshly harvested fruit and fruit stored in air under non-stressful conditions suggest that water stress is not a limiting factor leading to the development of this physiological disorder. In addition, the results indicated that formation of new waxes in fruit treated with ethylene may partially cover stomata, cracks or areas lacking wax occurring in stored fruit and is likely to improve physical barriers to P. digitatum penetration.

BackgroundReactive oxygen species (ROS) are normally produced in respiratory and photosynthetic electron chains and their production is enhanced during desiccation/rehydration. Nitric oxide (NO) is a ubiquitous and multifaceted molecule involved in cell signaling and abiotic stress. Lichens are poikilohydrous organisms that can survive continuous cycles of desiccation and rehydration. Although the production of ROS and NO was recently demonstrated during lichen rehydration, the functions of these compounds are unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the role of NO during rehydration of the lichen Ramalina farinacea (L.) Ach., its isolated photobiont partner Trebouxia sp. and Asterochloris erici (Ahmadjian) Skaloud et Peksa (SAG 32.85 = UTEX 911).ResultsRehydration of R. farinacea caused the release of ROS and NO evidenced by the fluorescent probes DCFH2-DA and DAN respectively. However, a minimum in lipid peroxidation (MDA) was observed 2 h post-rehydration. The inhibition of NO in lichen thalli with c-PTIO resulted in increases in both ROS production and lipid peroxidation, which now peaked at 3 h, together with decreases in chlorophyll autofluorescence and algal photobleaching upon confocal laser incidence. Trebouxia sp. photobionts generate peaks of NO-endproducts in suspension and show high rates of photobleaching and ROS production under NO inhibition which also caused a significant decrease in photosynthetic activity of A. erici axenic cultures, probably due to the higher levels of photo-oxidative stress.ConclusionsMycobiont derived NO has an important role in the regulation of oxidative stress and in the photo-oxidative protection of photobionts in lichen thalli. The results point to the importance of NO in the early stages of lichen rehydration.