Conifer pit aspiration

can have major influences on Cavitron measurements and lead to an overestimation of vulnerability thresholds when a small rotor is used. Thus, the conifer method presented here enables correct vulnerability analysis by avoiding artificial conductivity losses.”
“Garnet films have been grown over (100)-oriented substituted gadolinium gallium garnet substrates partially populated with gold nanoparticles in order to study plasmon resonance enhancement of magneto-optic effects. The results of measurements of light transmission through these films as well as Faraday rotation are reported. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3553944]“
“Recent reports suggest that early sensing of soil water stress by plant roots and the concomitant reduction in stomatal BLZ945 solubility dmso conductance may not be mediated by root-sourced abscisic acid (ABA), but that other xylem-borne chemicals may be the primary stress signal(s). To gain more insight into the role of root-sourced ABA, the timing and location of the expression of genes for key enzymes involved in ABA biosynthesis in Zea mays roots was measured and a comprehensive analysis of root xylem sap constituents

from the early to the later stages of water stress was GSK2126458 conducted. Xylem sap and roots were sampled from plants at an early stage of water stress when only a reduction in leaf conductance was measured, as well as at later stages when leaf xylem pressure potential decreased. It was found that the majority of ABA biosynthetic genes examined were only

significantly expressed in the elongation region of roots at a later stage of water stress. Apart from ABA, sulphate was the only xylem-borne chemical that consistently showed significantly higher concentrations from the early Quizartinib Angiogenesis inhibitor to the later stages of stress. Moreover, there was an interactive effect of ABA and sulphate in decreasing maize transpiration rate and Vicia faba stomatal aperture, as compared to ABA alone. The expression of a sulphate transporter gene was also analysed and it was found that it had increased in the elongation region of roots from the early to the later stages of water stress. Our results support the suggestion that in the early stage of water stress, increased levels of ABA in xylem sap may not be due to root biosynthesis, ABA glucose ester catabolism or pH-mediated redistribution, but may be due to shoot biosynthesis and translocation to the roots. The analysis of xylem sap mineral content and bioassays indicate that the anti-transpirant effect of the ABA reaching the stomata at the early stages of water stress may be enhanced by the increased concentrations of sulphate in the xylem which is also transported from the roots to the leaves.”
“Nanocomposite formation, through the incorporation of high aspect ratio nanoparticles, has been proven to enhance the dielectric properties of thermoplastic polymers, when the mitigation of internal charges and the nature of the interfacial regions are properly adjusted.