List of recently published papers on plant flow cytometry - October and November

As I told in the previous post, I've had limited time to dedicate to the blog. Because of that I bring you the list of the recently published papers of the two last months, October and November. There are some very interesting papers in this package... so, I wish some nice readings.

Genome size:
Palomino G, Hernandez LT, Torres ED. Nuclear genome size and chromosome analysis in Chenopodium quinoa and C. berlandieri subsp. nuttalliae. Euphytica (2008) 164: 221-230.

Robert ML, Lim KY, Hanson L, Sanchez-Teyer F, Bennett MD, Leitch AR, Leitch IJ. Wild and agronomically important Agave species (Asparagaceae) show proportional increases in chromosome number, genome size, and genetic markers with increasing ploidy. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society (2008) 158: 215-222.

Achigan-Dako EG, Fuchs J, Ahanchede A, Blattner FR. Flow cytometric analysis in Lagenaria siceraria (Cucurbitaceae) indicates correlation of genome size with usage types and growing elevation. Plant Systematics and Evolution (2008) 276: 9–19.

Costa IR, Dornelas MC, Forni-Martins ER. Nuclear genome size variation in fleshy-fruited Neotropical Myrtaceae. Plant Systematics and Evolution (2008) 276: 209–217.

Rosado TB, Clarindo WR, Carvalho CR. An integrated cytogenetic, flow and image cytometry procedure used to measure the DNA content of Zea mays A and B chromosomes. Plant Science 176 (2009) 154–158.

Temsch EM, Greilhuber J, Hammett KRW, Murray BG. Genome size in Dahlia Cav. (Asteraceae–Coreopsideae). Plant Systematics and Evolution (2008) 276:157–166.

Ploidy level:
Ecology
Arvanitis L, Wiklund C, Ehrlen J. Plant ploidy level influences selection by butterfly seed predators. Oikos (2008) 117: 1020-1025.

Biosystematics
Singliarová B, Chrtek J, Mráz P. Loss of genetic diversity in isolated populations of an alpine endemic Pilosella alpicola subsp. ullepitschii: effect of long-term vicariance or long-distance dispersal? Plant Systematics and Evolution (2008) 275: 181-191.

Fortune PM, Schierenbeck K, Ayres D, Bortolus A, Catrice O, Brown S, Ainouche ML. The enigmatic invasive Spartina densiflora: A history of hybridizations in a polyploidy context. Molecular Ecology (2008) 17: 4304-4316.

Ricca M, Beecher FW, Boles SB, Temsch E, Greilhuber J, Karlin EF, Shaw AJ. Cytotype variation and allopolyploidy in North American species of the Sphagnum subsecundum complex (Sphagnaceae). American Journal of Botany (2008) 95: 1606-1620.

Biotechnology
Perera PIP, Perera L, Hocher V, Verdeil JL, Yakandawala DMD, Weerakoon LK. Use of SSR markers to determine the anther-derived homozygous lines in coconut. Plant Cell Reports (2008) 27: 1697-1703.

Astarini IA, Plummer JA, Lancaster RA, Yan G. Identification of 'Sib' plants in hybrid cauliflowers using microsatellite markers. Euphytica (2008) 164: 309-316.

Apomixis
Kaushal P, Malaviya DR, Roy AK, Pathak S, Agrawal A, Khare A, Siddiqui SA. Reproductive pathways of seed development in apomictic guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) reveal uncoupling of apomixis components. Euphytica (2008) 164: 81-92.

Cell cycle:
Bagniewska-Zadworna A. The root microtubule cytoskeleton and cell cycle analysis through desiccation of Brassica napus seedlings. Protoplasma (2008) 233:177–185.

Functional studies:
Zonno MC, Vurro M, Lucretti S, Andolfi A, Perrone C, Evidente A. Phyllostictine A, a potential natural herbicide produced by Phyllosticta cirsii: In vitro production and toxicity. Plant Science (2008) 175: 818–825.

Xth Symposium of the International Organization of Plant Biosystematics

The next Symposium of the International Organization of Plant Biosystematics will occur next week (from the 2nd to the 4th of July) in Visoké Tatry, Slovakia. This year the meeting will be devoted to the evolution of plants in montainous and alpine habitats. The impact that flow cytometry has been having in this area is well patent in the Symposium Scientific Programme as there will be one talk totally dedicated to it (Jan Suda, Praha - From individuals to populations: the impact of flow cytometry on understanding polyploid evolution in mountain plants) and some more talks that will certainly focus on data obtained using this powerful and high throughput technique.

The main topics that will be focused are:
PHYLOGEOGRAPHY
BIOGEOGRAPHY
EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES IN EUROPEAN MOUNTAIN RANGES
POLYPLOIDY
MOLECULAR APPROACHES IN PLANT EVOLUTION
ECOLOGICAL FACTORS IN PLANT EVOLUTION
EVOLUTIONARY PROCESSES IN EXTRA-EUROPEAN MOUNTAINS
ROLE OF APOMIXIS IN PLANT EVOLUTION

There is still the possibility to register on site, so do not miss this opportunity to, besides enjoying a Symposium with a rather interesting programme (which should be the main purpose!), discover this beautiful mountain area of Slovakia.

I hope to see you there.

List of recently published papers on plant flow cytometry - May

Below is the list of papers that came to our hands/knowledge during the month of April. In here there are already included some of the contributions made through the FLOWer database webpage. Many thanks for the authors that contributed with their work.

Genome size:
Carvalho CR, Clarindo WE, Praça MM, Araújo FS, Carels N. Genome size, base composition and karyotype of Jatropha curcas L., an important biofuel plant. Plant Science (2008) 174:613-617.

Rossi AAB, Clarindo WR, Carvalho CR, Oliveira LO. Karyotype and nuclear DNA content of Psychotria ipecacuanha: a medicinal species. Cytologia 73 (2008):53–60.

Ecology
Ayres DR, Grotkopp E, Zaremba K, Sloop CM, Blum MJ, Bailey JP, Anttila CK, Strong DR. Hybridization between invasive Spartina densiflora (Poaceae) and native S. foliosa in San Francisco Bay, California, USA. American Journal of Botany (2008) 95:713-719.

Biotechnology
Makowczynska J, Andrzejewska-Golec E, Sliwinska E. Nuclear DNA content in different plant materials of Plantago asiatica L. cultured in vitro. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (2008) 94:65–71

Ploidy level:
Biotechnology
Kantartzi S, Roupakias DGProduction of aneuploids of the cotton hybrid G. barbadense x G. hirsutum L. via intergeneric pollination with Abelmoschus esculentus. Euphytica (2008) 161:319-327.

Orbovic V, Calovic M, Viloria Z, Nielsen B, Gmitter FG, Castle WS, Grosser JW. Analysis of genetic variability in various tissue culture-derived lemon plant populations using RAPD and flow cytometry. Euphytica (2008) 161:329-335.

Guillemin ML, Faugeron S, Destombe C, Viard F, Correa JA, Valero M. Genetic variation in wild and cultivated populations of the haploid-diploid red alga Gracilaria chilensis: how farming practices favor asexual reproduction and heterozygosity. Evolution (2008) 62-6: 1500–1519

Functional cytometry:
Apoptosis
Tilbrook J, Tyerman SD. Cell death in grape berries: varietal differences linked to xylem pressure and berry weight loss. Functional Plant Biology (2008) 35:173-184.

The "naughty" orchid

I know that it is somehow offtopic, but I couldn't resist... A. Gaskett and co-workers have just discovered that sexually deceptive orchids from genus Cryptostylis, when mimicking female insects, frequently lead to pollinators ejaculation and waste of sperm. The consequences of such "naughty" behaviour are discussed in detail by the authors. Worth reading!

Abstract: Sexually deceptive orchids lure pollinators by mimicking female insects. Male insects fooled into gripping or copulating with orchids unwittingly transfer the pollinia. The effect of deception on pollinators has been considered negligible, but we show that pollinators may suffer considerable costs. Insects pollinating Australian tongue orchids (Cryptostylis species) frequently ejaculate and waste copious sperm. The costs of sperm wastage could select for pollinator avoidance of orchids, thereby driving and maintaining sexual deception via antagonistic coevolution or an arms race between pollinator learning and escalating orchid mimicry. However, we also show that orchid species provoking such extreme pollinator behavior have the highest pollination success. How can deception persist, given the costs to pollinators? Sexually-deceptive-orchid pollinators are almost exclusively solitary and haplodiploid species. Therefore, female insects deprived of matings by orchid deception could still produce male offspring, which may even enhance orchid pollination.

The access to the full article can be found here.

ISAC Congress - Day 5

And so the last day of the XXIV ISAC Congress came, and since the morning we could see the difference in the number of participants that were present in the Budapest Sportsarena. After 4 long days, the exhaustion was already felt, personally speaking, but there was still time for some last chatting with the commercial exhibiters and most importantly, to profit from another interesting workshop dedicated to the plant sciences. Jan Suda, Brian Husband and Paul Kron brought for the first time the world of plant evolutionary biology, biosystematics and ecology to the ISAC Congress, and I was very happy to witness that at least a dozen participants were interested. As expected, the workshop was very good with the speakers presenting several examples on the potentialities that flow cytometry has on such fields together with some "controversy" related topics on best practices.

Then was time to relax, drink some hungarian beers in a local pub and eat some typical food, before going to rest with the idea that everything was done to fulfil the objectives of the Congress. Of course, we leave the evaluation for the participants... and we hope that they have enjoyed as much as I did.

List of recently published papers on plant flow cytometry - April

As a usual section of our blog, you can find below the list of papers that came to our hands/knowledge during the month of April.

Genome size:
Nucleotypic effect
Francis D, Davies MS, Barlow PW. A strong nucleotypic effect on the cell cycle regardless of ploidy level. Annals of Botany (2008) 101:747-757.

Ecology
Sweigart AL, Martin NH, Willis JH. Patterns of nucleotide variation and reproductive isolation between a Mimulus allotetraploid and its progenitor species. Molecular Ecology (2008) 17:2089-2100.

Ploidy level:
Biotechnology
Ochatt SJ, Sangwan RS. In vitro shortening of generation time in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (2008) 93:133-137.

Zale J, Ohnoutkova L, West D, Sams C, Biggerstaff J, Le Pull M. Micropropagation of field-grown perennial teosinte from node culture. Crop Science (2008) 48:651-655.

Soriano M, Cistue L, Castillo AM. Enhanced induction of microspore embryogenesis after n-butanol treatment in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) anther culture. Plant Cell Reports (2008) 27:805-811.

Leskovsek L, Jakse M, Bohanec B. Doubled haploid production in rocket (Eruca sativa Mill.) through isolated microspore culture. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (2008) 93:181-189.

Biosystematics
Arndt S. Novelties in the Festuca valesiaca group (Poaceae) from the central Alps. Plant Systematics and Evolution (2008) 271:129-142.

Toxicology
Bakos F, Darkó E, Gáspár L, Ambrus H, Barnabás B. A cytological study on aluminium-treated wheat anther cultures resulting in plants with increased Al tolerance. Plant breeding (2008) 127:235-240.

List of recently published papers on plant flow cytometry - March

You can find in here the articles that were recently published on plant flow cytometry. We decided also to highlight one manuscript that was already published in 2007, but due to its omission from previous posts, and because of its importance, we found that it was relevant to add to this post.

This months highlight paper:
Leitch IJ, Beaulieu JM, Cheung K, Hanson L, Lysak MA, Fay MF. Punctuated genome size evolution in Liliaceae. Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2007) 20:2296-2308.

Ploidy level:
Ecology
Halverson K, Heard SB, Nason JD, Stireman III JO. Differential attack on diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid Solidago altissima L. by five insect gallmakers. Oecologia (2008) 154:755–761.

Fortune PM, Pourtau N, Viron N, Ainouche ML. Molecular phylogeny and reticulate origins of the polyploid Bromus species from section Genea (Poaceae). American Journal of Botany (2008) 95: 454–464.

Biotechnology
Thieme R, Rakosy-Tican E, Gavrilenko T, Antonova O, Schubert J, Nachtigall M, Heimbach U, Thieme T. Novel somatic hybrids (Solanum tuberosum L. + Solanum tarnii) and their fertile BC1 progenies express extreme resistance to potato virus Y and late blight. Theoretical and Applied Genetics (2008) 116:691-700.

Thomas, TD, Chaturvedi R. Endosperm culture: a novel method for triploid plant production. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (2008) 93:1-14.

Vogel J, Hill T. High-efficiency Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Brachypodium distachyon inbred line Bd21-3. Plant Cell Reports (2008) 27:471-478.

Plant breeding
Cidade FW, Dall'Agnol M, Bered F, de Souza-Chies TT Genetic diversity of the complex Paspalum notatum Flugge (Paniceae : Panicoideae). Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution (2008) 55:235-246.

List of recently published papers on plant flow cytometry - February

This past month of February, unfortunately, not so many papers on plant flow cytometry came to our hands. Either the publication rate was lower than usual, or we were not so aware of the current contents available in this month's journals. Nevertheless you can always contribute to this topic by sending us some notice about missing publications.

Ploidy level:
Ramsey J, Robertson A, Husband. Rapid adaptive divergence in new world Achillea, an autopolyploid complex of ecological races. Evolution (OnlineEarly)

Trenchard LJ, Harris PJC, Smith SJ, Pasiecznik NM. A review of ploidy in the genus Prosopis (Leguminosae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society (2008) 156:425–438

Jurado S, Díaz-Triviño S, Abraham Z, Manzano C, Gutierrez C, del Pozo C. SKP2A, an F-box protein that regulates cell division, is degraded via the ubiquitin pathway. The Plant Journal (2008) 53:828–841

Perera PIP, Hocher V, Verdeil J-L, Bandupriya HDD, Yakandawala DMD, Weerakoon LK. Androgenic potential in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.). Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (2008) 92:293–302

Beer consumption vs. scientific performance

Yes, it is true, someone made it, and the results are according to my predictions surprising. Tomás Grim from the Department of Zoology of Palacký University in Olomouc (Czech Republic) correlated the consumption of alcohol, particularly beer, with the publication output, using the "ecologists of Czech Republic" as the study group. And he was able to publish it in a renowned journal of ecology (Oikos).

So, the results showed that an increasing beer consumption per capita is associated with lower numbers of papers, total citations, and citations per paper. Not to talk, with an increase of "belly" diameter (data not shown in the paper).

Below follows the abstract and the link for the full text (if available from Blackwell Publishing):

Publication output is the standard by which scientific productivity is evaluated. Despite a plethora of papers on the issue of publication and citation biases, no study has so far considered a possible effect of social activities on publication output. One of the most frequent social activities in the world is drinking alcohol. In Europe, most alcohol is consumed as beer and, based on well known negative effects of alcohol consumption on cognitive performance, I predicted negative correlations between beer consumption and several measures of scientific performance. Using a survey from the Czech Republic, that has the highest per capita beer consumption rate in the world, I show that increasing per capita beer consumption is associated with lower numbers of papers, total citations, and citations per paper (a surrogate measure of paper quality). In addition I found the same predicted trends in comparison of two separate geographic areas within the Czech Republic that are also known to differ in beer consumption rates. These correlations are consistent with the possibility that leisure time social activities might influence the quality and quantity of scientific work and may be potential sources of publication and citation biases.

Link

Enjoy your reading!

ISAC - XXIV International Congress

The next congress of ISAC - International Society for Analytical Cytology will be held next May (17th to 21st) in Budapest. It is with great pleasure that we announce that a tutorial session and two workshops focused on plant flow cytometry were approved for presentation.

Scientific tutorial: Estimation of genome size in plants using flow cytometry
Tutors: Jan Suda, João Loureiro and Johann Greilhuber
Abstract: The last two decades have seen a significant increase in the use of flow cytometry for estimation of genome size in plants (either in absolute terms or in relative units, as an indicator of ploidy level), with the data being successfully utilized in various fields of plant sciences, including biosystematics, ecology, evolutionary biology and biotechnology. This tutorial will focus primarily on the biological significance of genome size variation in plants and on the methodological approaches used to analyse the nuclear DNA content of cells. A set of best practice rules will be presented, and special attention will be given to the strategies that may be employed to investigate recalcitrant plant material. The practical session will include basic protocols using several different isolation buffers and DNA-selective fluorochromes for staining intact plant nuclei. The effect of chemical additives (antioxidants, preservatives) on the quality of histograms will be demonstrated. The tutorial is aimed at newcomers in plant flow cytometry as well as at workers in other fields interested in learning more about specific features of plant material.

Workshop: The impact of flow cytometry on plant evolutionary biology, biosystematics and ecology
Organizers: Brian Husband and Jan Suda

Abstract: Since the 1980s, use of flow cytometry (FCM) in plant population and evolutionary biology, biosystematics, and ecology has expanded dramatically both in scope and frequency. With its ability to collect several quantitative parameters, simultaneously, for large numbers of particles, FCM is widening the diversity of attributes that can be explored on a population scale and the taxonomic, spatial, and temporal scope of these investigations. As a result, the technique has enabled large-scale comparative analyses of genome size evolution, taxonomic identification and delineation, and is advancing new research programs in polyploid evolution and reproductive biology. In combination with other methodological approaches, FCM promises qualitative advances in our understanding of genome multiplication and the population biology of vascular plants. Workshop facilitators will introduce some of the recent developments, problems and applications of FCM in plant population biology, biosystematics and evolution, and then lead a discussion on some or all topics. Two themes that will recur throughout these discussions are: (i) novel applications of flow cytometry as a result of the higher sample throughput and larger sample sizes possible compared to traditional methods; and (ii) the potential benefits of combining FCM with other, notably molecular, techniques.

Workshop: Plant genome structure and gene expression

Organizers: Jaroslav Dolezel and David Galbraith

Abstract: This 90 min workshop will comprise invited talks and talks selected from submitted abstracts. The talks will focus on the most advanced applications of flow cytometry in plants, with an emphasis on the analysis of plant genome structure and function. This includes, but is not restricted to, chromosome sorting for physical genome mapping and gene cloning, and global analysis of gene expression in specific cell types. This workshop is intended to attract a broad range of audience members, ranging from PhD students to senior researchers. To our knowledge, this will be the first scientific workshop at an international conference entirely devoted to advanced applications of flow cytometry in plants that focus on plant genome structure and function.

As soon as we know further details, we will update this post. So check regularly for updates.