Research Mission and Profile
Molecular Signal Processing
Bioorganic Chemistry
Biochemistry of Plant Interactions
Cell and Metabolic Biology
Independent Junior Research Groups
Program Center MetaCom
Publications
Good Scientific Practice
Research Funding
Networks and Collaborative Projects
Symposia and Colloquia
Alumni Research Groups
Publications
Publications - Cell and Metabolic Biology
Publications
Elevated tropospheric ozone concentrations are considered a toxic threat to plants, responsible for global crop losses with associated economic costs of several billion dollars per year. Plant injuries have been linked to the uptake of ozone through stomatal pores and oxidative damage of the internal leaf tissue. But a striking question remains: can surface reactions limit the stomatal uptake of ozone and therefore reduce its detrimental effects to plants?In this laboratory study we could show that semi-volatile organic compounds exuded by the glandular trichomes of different Nicotiana tabacum varieties are an efficient ozone sink at the plant surface. In our experiments, different diterpenoid compounds were responsible for a strongly variety-dependent ozone uptake of plants under dark conditions, when stomatal pores are almost closed. Surface reactions of ozone were accompanied by a prompt release of oxygenated volatile organic compounds, which could be linked to the corresponding precursor compounds: ozonolysis cis-abienol (C20H34O) – a diterpenoid with two exocyclic double bonds – caused emissions of formaldehyde (HCHO) and methyl vinyl ketone (C4H6O). The ring-structured cembratrien-diols (C20H34O2) with three endocyclic double bonds need at least two ozonolysis steps to form volatile carbonyls such as 4-oxopentanal (C5H8O2), which we could observe in the gas phase, too.Fluid dynamic calculations were used to model ozone distribution in the diffusion-limited leaf boundary layer under daylight conditions. In the case of an ozone-reactive leaf surface, ozone gradients in the vicinity of stomatal pores are changed in such a way that the ozone flux through the open stomata is strongly reduced.Our results show that unsaturated semi-volatile compounds at the plant surface should be considered as a source of oxygenated volatile organic compounds, impacting gas phase chemistry, as well as efficient ozone sink improving the ozone tolerance of plants.
Publications
In barley leaves a group of genes is expressed in response to treatment with jasmonates and abscisic acid (ABA) [21]. One of these genes coding for a jasmonate-induced protein of 23 kDa (JIP-23) was analyzed to find out the link between ABA and jasmonates by recording its expression upon modulating independently, the endogenous level of both of them. By use of inhibitors of JA synthesis and ABA degradation, and the ABA-deficient mutant Az34, as well as of cultivar-specific differences, it was shown that endogenous jasmonate increases are necessary and sufficient for expression of this gene. The endogenous rise of ABA did not induce synthesis of JIP-23, whereas exogenous ABA did not act via jasmonates. Different signalling pathways are suggested and discussed.
Publications
This article surveys the currently isolated and identified GA conjugates, their synthesis and evaluates modern methods for analysing GA glucose conjugates. The metabolism of applied GAs in higher plant systems leading, in most cases, to GA conjugates is also considered. The enzymology of the formation and hydrolysis of GA glucose conjugates is discussed in connection with their possible physiological function.
Publications
Data on the occurrence of free and conjugated gibberellins in different tribes of Gramineae are compiled and discussed with regard to their biosynthetic pathways. From the gibberellins detected so far the functioning of both the early 13-hydroxylation and the non-3,13-hydroxylation pathway of GA biosynthesis in gramineous plants can be deduced and the discovery of further gibberellin conjugates may be expected.
This page was last modified on 27 Jan 2025 .
