Environmental Plant Biology

Adopt-A-Plant! ~Alpine Biome and C3 Photosynthetic Pathway~

rubinashio — Wed, 03 May 2006 01:59:13 +0000

Pinus longaeva is one of the Alpine plants. They are the ones that can survive through what is known as the cold, harsh, dry, winter-like reputation the Alpine Biomes is famous for. “The Alpine biome lies just below the snow line of the mountain” (Benders-Hyde). It is known for having the short summer season of July to September, while the winter season lingers for as long as from October to May. The temperature in the Alpine biome can alter dramatically, from warm to freezing within a day, as the altitude of this habitat is usually around 10,000 feet.

In orderto survivein the Alpine biome, Pinus longaeva'sbarks and tissues are reduced when damaged, hence allowing less nutrients to be uptaken and distributed to the areas of affected parts. Pinus longaeva usually scatter themselves, (or keep distance between one another,) to avoid any other competition since they already live in a harsh environment. They, however, are able to survive through this condition, which also allows them needless to worry about competition from other plants, animals or disease as not many species can survive in this biome. Moreover, they can also live in the dry, rocky, alkaline layers of soil, which is usually too harsh for other species to grow or live in. The alkaline soil, however, has higher moisture contentthan other sandstones although it has lowernutrient level. The rocks,too, can reflect more sunlight because of its texture, allowing cooler root zones and saving more moisture for the trees. This allows the tree to accomplish their growth strategy with just about 25cm of precipitation per year. For the rest of the time, they grow on theenergy stored from the previous years.

At high altitude, there is limited amount of carbon dioxide available as the CO2 level is very low for photosynthesis to take place. Yet, despite the low CO2 level, Pinus longaeva carry C3 photosynthetic pathway. The net photosynthesis, however, decreases by large during the cold winter until early spring, while respiration rate increases during the winter but decreases during the spring. This sometimes leads to negative carbon dioxide balance due to the high respiration rate and low photosynthetic rates. The long-living needles of Pinus longaeva works successfully as they “provide a stable photosynthetic capacity to sustain the tree over years of severe stress” (Schulman).

They are distributed over arid mountains of mainly six states in the U.S, of which the more known ones are Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of California where they have what is known as the oldest tree of Pinus longaeva, and others are found in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and in New Mexico.

For further information, refer to:

http://www.sonic.net/bristlecone/growth.html

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/bristlecone_pine.htm

The Successful Bt Plants..!!

rubinashio — Mon, 01 May 2006 05:03:13 +0000

The scientists from the University of Arizona announced that the Bt plants, one of the genetically modified plants as a result of biotechnology, showed successful outcome in fighting against the invading insects despite the decrease in the amount of chemical insecticides used than in the past! As previous studies reveals, often, the insects tend to grow resistance to such genetically modified plants in just a few years, plaguing the minds of researches in coming up with even more advanced alternatives. Initially, it was expected that the Bt toxin crops, too, would face the same consequence. However, as the head of UA’s department of entomology and a member of BIO5 Institute, Bruce E. Tabashnik states, “"We found no net increase in insect resistance to Bt. If anything, resistance decreased. This is the opposite of what experts predicted when these crops were first commercialized. I’m definitely surprised." The successful outcome is hence to provide more benefits to the farmers seeing that it could help their economy as agricultural becomes less disturbed by the insects.

For detailed information, refer to http://uanews.org/ for “Biotech cotton 8: Bugs 0” published on October 19, 2005. OR, the direct site with other related sites can be referred to at:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-10/uoa-bc8101905.php

A New Discovery? Similar Species of Moonworts!

rubinashio — Mon, 01 May 2006 04:33:49 +0000

It was noted that there may be a new discovery of species moonworts! The aritcle announced that the U.S Forest Service employee, while attempting a field survey, came across several plants that she had never seen before. As the pictures were taken and studied back in the laboratory, it was deduced that the likely features of the two plants suggest that it was a new species of moonworts.

Moonworts belong to the same family as ferns, which produce only one leaf per year. The production is split into two parts, one for photosynthesis and another for spore production and reproduction. The picture of the discovered specie can be seen at the site as well.

For information, refer to the 9news.com, under the title of “Forest Service Worker Comes Across New Plant Species.” (published on October 18, 2005.)

http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=069b04ae-0abe-421a-00f4-a3d5932bb59e&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf

International Plant Trade…Potential Danger..?!

rubinashio — Mon, 01 May 2006 03:43:05 +0000

The Science Daily previously posted that the pathogen known as the Phytophthora ramorum was responsible for killing a large number of Oak trees by spreading contagious fungus-like disease at the Pacific Coast. Until recent, the studies had revealed that there was a single lineage in the community within the U.S, while the second one was found in that of the Europe. The surprise arose, however, when University of Berkeley announced that there was a third kind of lineage found in the U.S. The third type was discovered when a sample from Washington state was taken, identifying the new type along with the two previously found. Since “native pathogens are characterized by great diversity, [it was determined that] the lack of such diversity in U.S forests shows that the disease was introduced” (University of Berkeley). Consequently, it is believed that this was due to the international plant trade with foreign countries that must have introduced the emergence of this third type of Phytophthora ramorum. However, it was deduced from the previous studies that the expression of the symptoms to such disease on the plants may take millions of years, hence suggesting that there may be other types yet not identified as a consequence of international plant trading. The important, yet surprising discovery plagues the minds of researchers as the issue needs close attention in the future in order to prevent the plant community within the U.S.

For detailed information, refer to the Science Daily (posted on April 21, 2006) OR the UC Berkeley News (published on April 20, 2006) under the title of: “Sudden Oak Death introduced to
U.S., study finds.”

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2006/04/20_oakdeath.shtml (UC Berkeley)http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060420235514.htm (Science Daily)

Can Herbs be Dangerous..?? ~Chamomile Version~

rubinashio — Mon, 01 May 2006 02:25:18 +0000

Chamomile is a low-growing plant that mostly blooms usually during the late summer of July to September. It is one of the most popular garden herbs, yet, its reputation as a medicinal plant is also widely famous. Consequently, it is easy to find chamomile products in various forms such as tea and lotions. However, it was discovered from actual incident that such chamomile products, when taken or used with anti-coagulant medication, can lead to severe case of internal hemorrhaging in an individual. Despite its many advantages chamomile holds, researchers at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal noted that there was a chemical reaction between anti-coagulant and chamomile as they interfered with one another and created a strong combined effect. Such effect hence affected the patient prescribed with anti-coagulant, resulting in severe case of internal hemorrhaging. Although herbs are generally very helpful in many ways, it also “highlights the potential dangers of mixing herbal remedies with physician prescribed medications" (Dr. Pilote).

For further information, refer to the Science Daily (posted on April 27, 2006) OR the McGill Newswire (published on April 25, 2006) under the title of: "Chamomile Tea and Lotion Causing Internal Bleeding in Patient on Anti-coagulant Medication."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060427161856.htm (Science Daily)

http://www.mcgill.ca/newswire/?ItemID=19943 (McGill University)

Symbiotic Environment: Algae Zooxanthellae and Corals

rubinashio — Mon, 01 May 2006 01:31:29 +0000

An article published by the University at Buffalo presented a discovery that the “corals can reestablish symbiosis with algae from their environments after bleaching” (University at Buffalo).On the Science Daily site, which regularly updates recent research results and discoveries done by various individuals and organizations, previously posted how global warming affects the sea temperature to rise, causing what is known as the ‘bleaching’ effect. The corals live in a symbiotic environment with the algae called zooxanthellae that live inside them and help supply food to them; however, once such rise in temperature occurs and thus leads to the ‘bleaching’ effect, it reduces the algal densities. When the algal densities are low, it causes “loss of pigmentation, leaving the coral's white skeleton visible through the clear tissue” (University at Buffalo). At this point, there is hardly any symbiotic environment maintained with the algae zooxanthellae as only few of them remain to contribute to the food production.However, through the experiment tested out by Mary-Alice Coffroth, Ph.D., associate professor of biological sciences in UB's College of Arts and Sciences,and her colleague Cynthia L. Lewis, they discovered that by inducing the algae zooxanthellae into the aquarium of ‘bleached’ corals, the symbiotic environment was reestablished as the numbers of “symbiont cell densities within the coral showed a significant increase” (University at Buffalo). The experiment became an important notice that although the corals were once ‘bleached,’ with the exposure to the algae zooxanthellae they are able to recover from the effect and hold the potential to reestablish the symbiotic environment once again.

For further information, refer to: The ‘Science Daily’ site (posted on June 8, 2004) OR the News Center at the ‘UB News Direct Online’ (published on April 30, 2006) both under the title of : “Corals can Reestablish Symbiosis with Algae from their Environments after Bleaching.”

http://www.buffalo.edu/news/fast-execute.cgi/article-page.html?article=67500009 (UB NewsDirect Online)http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/06/040604032852.htm (Science Daily)

Plant Protection..! Are the Laws Helpful..??

rubinashio — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 23:27:46 +0000

The World Patent Information published an interesting article regarding various aspects of the legal policies on plant protection. The article describes how such policies as the US plant Patent Act of 1930, the UPOV Convention, TRIPS agreement and the European Regulation on the Protection of Plant Varieties are debated over the recent years and whether or not they protect such innovation are reviewed. As the issue of genetically modified plants is very much in focus over the recent years, the article makes close reviews over the court cases and focuses on several issues including the patenting of gene sequences and access to genetic resources and researches done over them as it further discusses the issue being debated.

Furthermore, the article also reviews the plant protection offices around the world and evaluates them as the weaknesses of the current system are also outlined. It discusses how such weaknesses may affect the breeders in the research field to lose interest in some of the forms of the protection, emphasizing the difficulty in finding an acceptable balance. The article concludes, however, that if the laws are fully implemented, then it should help biotechnology inventors and plant breeders in providing effective protection (World Patent Information).

For detailed information, refer to the World Patent Information Vol: 28 Issue: 1, Title: Protection of plant-related innovations: Evolution and current discussion Author: Le Buanec, BernardPublished on March, 2006.

http://journals.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=01722190&issue=v27i0004&article=319_pvpitec&form=fulltext

Breeders’ Rights in Europe

rubinashio — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 23:22:32 +0000

Also form the World Patent Information, one of the articles discusses another policy related issues particularly focused in Europe. It focuses on the topic over the rights of the breeders and their wish to protect the free use of varieties they have developed. There are two options for the plant variety protection in Europe, of which one can be done at the national level while the other can be done through community level. The article focuses on that of the community level, regarded as the Community plant variety protection system first created in 1994 and currently seated in France. Under the system, such right issues held by the breeders in Europe can be protected through various sequences of procedures, including the process in attaining authority license. It also provides useful statistics for easier overview of the system.

For further information, refer to the World Patent Information Vol: 27 Issue: 4, Title: Plant Variety Protection in the European CommunityAuthor: Kiewiet, BartPublished December, 2005.

http://journals.ohiolink.edu/cgi-bin/sciserv.pl?collection=journals&journal=01722190&issue=v27i0004&article=319_pvpitec&form=fulltext

Deforestation and Greenhouse Effect

rubinashio — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 23:13:30 +0000

The Time published on April 3rd 2006 presents how deforestation is related to the cause of greenhouse effect as it elaborates on the potential damage it can bring about for the future. Although deforestation is necessary for certain plants to continue its life cycle and to maintain the community, the article raises the issue over the harm burning of forest is likely to cause. It explains how such acts increase the amount of Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere, while the difficulty in balancing it with the Carbon Dioxide intake by the plants to produce Oxygen is highlighted. It is ideal if the high percentage of Carbon Dioxide produced can be converted in to an appropriate amount of Oxygen by the plants in the forest; however, the article debates that the issue of deforestation is likely to cause less efficiency for doing so, and hence lead to potential future damages adding to the greenhouse effect.

For further information, refer to http:web.lexis-nexis.com. “Vicious Cycles.” Published on April 3rd 2006 by Time.

http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=2a2dbeda2606820b99017f7ebb943eec&_docnum=2&wchp=dGLbVzz-zSkVA&_md5=0a64da18cd37e3bda338ee318eb14185

Corn oil for more!

rubinashio — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 03:00:30 +0000

Vast agricultural companies are on their ways in seeking various plants such as corn to be used as biofuels for future, the “Fortune” states in the February 6th 2006 edition. The production of vehicle fuels through such plants could bring economic benefits as it will allow the process to occur with lower price than it currently is. The production of the plants such as corns is suggested to be grown in states like Ohio, where it would be shipped to California for further assessment. It would cost less to transport corns capable of the production of ethanol than to transport ethanol itself with much more care required. There are also other plants such as soy beans, straw and wood chips are involved in the production of ethanol and diesel in countries like Canada and Germany. The article informs that though it may appear risky, due to many benefits that this could bring to the production of ethanol and fuel at lower price, the process to invest in them appear highly attractive for many agricultural companies.

For further information, refer to http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
"Wanna Make a Bet on Biofuels?;
Warning: Breakthrough technologies can take a very long time to pay off."
Published on February 6th 2006 by the "Fortune."

http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe/document?_m=b7f5306325165f5ccd566bfd6b984037&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVzz-zSkVA&_md5=0f7746f50e3a3213f9cf0615a70ce252