Vol 70, No 4 (2023)

In the context of escalating climate threats around the world, there is a growing need to develop new strategies to increase plants' stress resistance. Innovative approaches in this direction are provided by nanotechnologies that ensure the production of various nanomaterials (NMs). These include structures less
than 100 nm in size that have unique physical and chemical properties. Due to this, NMs are able to penetrate biological barriers and accumulate in plant cells. The effects of NMs on a plant organism can be either positive or negative, depending on the chemical nature, sizes and concentrations of NMs, the object of study, and envi-
ronmental conditions. Many NMs in a certain concentration are able to regulate almost all processes in a plant organism: growth, water metabolism, activity of the photosynthetic apparatus, and pro-/antioxidant balance.
This suggests the possibility of using some NMs as adaptogens that enhance plants' stress resistance. This review presents a comparative analysis of experimental data on the use of NMs in plant physiology and agriculture to protect plants from the effects of unfavorable low and high temperatures. Possible mechanisms of NM action on
plants are discussed as well as a strategy for their further use in fundamental science and agriculture.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important crop and, due to the existence of wild related
species (Solanum section Lycopersicon), a model for studying the development of the fleshy fruit. In the
study, expression analysis of sugar uniporter genes SWEET1а, 1b, 1e, 3, 7a, 10a, 12c, 14, and 15 in tomato
species and cultivars was carried out. In cv. Heinz (S. lycopersicum), genes that are most active in roots
(SWEET1e, 3, 10a, and 12c), leaves (SWEET1a, 1e, 3, 10a, and 12c) and flowers (SWEET1a, 1b, 7a, 10a,
12s, 14, and 15) were revealed. The growth of the fruit is accompanied by an increase in the level of the
SWEET 110a and 12c transcripts; maturation of the fruit is accompanied by an increase in the level of the
SWEET 1a and 15 transcripts. Differential expression of the SWEET1a, 1b, 12c, and 15 genes in the ripe fruit
of inbred lines obtained from crossing of S. lycopersicum cv. M82 × S. pennellii was demonstrated. qRT-PCR
analysis showed that the expression of the SWEET1a and 12c genes is common for ripe fruit of the analyzed
tomato species, while the expression of the SWEET1b and 10a genes is common for S. pennellii, S. habrochaites,
and S. cheesmaniae. It was determined that the fructose : glucose ratio is equimolar in the accessions
except for cv. Black Jack and White Beauty (fructose : glucose ≥ 1.10). Correlations between the level of
SWEET gene transcripts and the ratio of hexoses was not revealed.

change in volume, and proton permeability of the inner membrane of mitochondria isolated from cotyledons of etiolated seedlings of narrow-leaved lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.) was studied. The mitochondria used in the work were characterized by a strong coupling of oxidation and phosphorylation processes. The high functional activity of mitochondria was confirmed by their ability to generate a transmembrane gradient of protons on the inner membrane (membrane potential or ∆Ψ) during the oxidation of succinate and also sustainably maintain it for a long time , both due to the operation of the electron transport chain and due to ATP hydrolysis under conditions of anaerobiosis. It was shown that the presence of 60–120 µM CaCl2 in the mitochondrial incubation medium had no significant effect on the rate of succinate oxidation and the parameters of oxidative phosphorylation; however, it induced ∆Ψ dissipation under conditions of oxygen depletion in the incubation medium. The most complete removal Ca2+  from the medium in the presence of chelators (EGTA, EDTA) prevented the membrane potential dissipation. Ca2+-dependent depolarization of the inner membrane was inhibited by dithiothreitol, suggesting involvement in this process of reactive oxygen species. The reset of the membrane potential was not accompanied by swelling of mitochondria and was not sensitive to cyclosporine A. Using metallochromic Ca2+-indicator arsenazo III, it was shown that the mitochondria of lupine cotyledons are able to actively absorb exogenous Ca2+ and store it in the matrix. Ca2+-induced dissipation of ∆Ψ under conditions of anaerobiosis was accompanied by the release of Ca2+ from mitochondria, the rate of which sharply increased in the presence of calcium ionophore A23 (A23187). It is assumed that the accumulation of Ca2+ and an increase in the level of reactive oxygen species in the matrix induces reversible permeabilization of the inner mitochondrial membrane of lupine cotyledons under conditions of anaerobiosis, which is due to the opening of a pore of nonspecific permeability in a state of low conductivity permeable to protons and, possibly, to other small cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+).

In vitro callus cultures of common chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) were obtained and their growth and biochemical characteristics depending on the hormonal composition of the MS medium and the spectral composition of light were studied. The study of the effect of light culture on callus tissue formation and inulin accumulation in it was carried out in opaque grow tents with radiation aligned with the flux density of pho- tosynthetic photons and different ratios of its levels in the region of 660 nm (R, red) and 730 nm (FR, far red). The control variant was placed under white linear fluorescent lamps. The resulting cultures were character- ized by high proliferative activity and the capability for morphogenesis. It has been established that the inter- action of two factors—the presence of auxins in the nutrient medium (IAA or NAA at a concentration of 7.5 mg/L in combination with BAP 0.5 mg/L) and cultivation under light culture conditions (FR > R, FR = R, FR < R)—had a significant impact on the biosynthetic potential of cell cultures. In the obtained cultures, a study of the quantitative content of inulin was carried out. It has been shown that the high content of inulin (7.55–7.95%) in callus cultures was on the MS medium in combination with IAA at FR > R illumination. This is probably due to the fact that well proliferating and highly morphogenic callus tissue was formed under these conditions. The obtained results confirm the hypothesis about the specificity of cultured cells to in vitro synthesize and accumulate secondary metabolites in dedifferentiated cells and the dependence of this process on factors of chemical and physical nature. 

Berberin compound with a wide range of biological activity, synthesized in the culture of cells of the medicinal plant Thalictrum minus. The influence of the abiotic elisitor (Cu2 +) on the growth of the Thalictrum minus cell culture and the biosynthesis of protoberberin alkaloids in it at different stages of the growth cycle was investigated. The rapid reaction (after 2 hours) and prolonged (at the end of the growth cycle) were evaluated. The greatest effect of increasing protoberberin alkaloids was observed after exposure to (Cu2 +) 20, 25 mg/L on day 0 after 2 hours, 49 and 114% above control, respectively, while maintaining growth at the control level. By the end of the growth cycle, cell mass and protoberberin alkaloids decreased by 67-70 and 27-53%, respectively (toxic effect). At 5 mg/L (Cu2 +), the reaction was the opposite.After 2 hours, 48% growth stimulation and 48% reduction in protoberberin alkaloids were observed with respect to control. By the end of the growth cycle, an excess of 50% was maintained, and the content of protoberberin alkaloids increased by 60% relative to control. If treatment with Cu2 + was carried out in the middle of the growth cycle, at a concentration of 20, 25 mg/L, both at the rapid reaction (after 2 hours) and at the end of the growth cycle, there was a decrease in growth by 65-71% and the content of protoberberin alkaloids by 52-70%. At 5 mg/l of copper ions, an excess of growth of 50-54% was maintained, the alkaloid content remained at the control level. The reaction at 10 mg/L of Cu2 + ions was intermediate. Studies have shown the promise of using low concentrations of copper ions for Thalictrum minus cell culture. The content of protoberberin alkaloids increased against the background of stimulation of cell culture growth at the end of the growth cycle.

Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. is one of the major model organisms used in different areas of science: plant physiology and biochemistry, developmental biology, genetic engineering, genome editing, etc. These model plants possess the following advantages: short life cycle, simple cultivation, sequenced and rather well annotated genome, and numerous available reports concerning transcriptome, proteome, metabolic pathways, and mutations. The technique of A. thaliana cultivation under laboratory conditions is an important aspect of investigations dealing with this plant as a model. Choice of the growing mode depends on the goal of investigation as well as on quantity and type of required biomaterial. The aim of this work is to review the techniques of A. thaliana cultivation and their applicability to different tasks.

This lecture presents classical information and new data on the molecular events of the “basic” (core) cell cycle (CC) of plants. The impact of water deficit, CO2, light, and temperature on CC is briefly examined. Data on the regulation of cell proliferation by auxins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, gibberellins, brassinosteroids, and ethylene are presented. Commonality and peculiarities of the effect of phytohormones on CC in various organs and tissues are discussed.