Microcystin-LR (MCY-LR) is a heptapeptide toxin produced mainly by freshwater cyanobacteria. It strongly inhibits protein phosphatases PP2A and PP1. Functioning of the PIN family of auxin efflux carriers is crucial for plant ontogenesis and their functions depend on their reversible phosphorylation. We aimed to reveal the adverse effects of MCY-LR on PIN and auxin distribution in Arabidopsis roots and its consequences for root development. Relatively short-term (24 h) MCY-LR treatments decreased the levels of PIN1, PIN2 and PIN7, but not of PIN3 in tips of primary roots. In contrast, levels of PIN1 and PIN2 increased in emergent lateral roots and their levels depended on the type of PIN in lateral root primordia. DR5:GFP reporter activity showed that the cyanotoxin-induced decrease of auxin levels/responses in tips of main roots in parallel to PIN levels. Those alterations did not affect gravitropic response of roots. However, MCY-LR complemented the altered gravitropic response of crk5-1 mutants, defective in a protein kinase with essential role in the correct membrane localization of PIN2. For MCY-LR treated Col-0 plants, the number of lateral root primordia but not of emergent laterals increased and lateral root primordia showed early development. In conclusion, inhibition of protein phosphatase activities changed PIN and auxin levels, thus altered root development. Previous data on aquatic plants naturally co-occurring with the cyanotoxin showed similar alterations of root development. Thus, our results on the model plant Arabidopsis give a mechanistic explanation of MCY-LR phytotoxicity in aquatic ecosystems.

To evaluate the effects of the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin-LR (MCY-LR, a protein phosphatase inhibitor) and diquat (DQ, an oxidative stress inducer) on the organization of tonoplast, the effect of MCY-LR on plastid stromule formation and on mitochondria was investigated in wild-type Arabidopsis. Tonoplast was also studied in PP2A catalytic (c3c4) and regulatory subunit mutants (fass-5 and fass-15). These novel studies were performed by CLSM microscopy. MCY-LR is produced during cyanobacterial blooms. The organization of tonoplast of PP2A mutants of Arabidopsis is much more sensitive to MCY-LR and DQ treatments than that of wild type. In c3c4, fass-5 and fass-15, control and treated plants showed increased vacuole fragmentation that was the strongest when the fass-5 mutant was treated with MCY-LR. It is assumed that both PP2A/C and B” subunits play an important role in normal formation and function of the tonoplast. In wild-type plants, MCY-LR affects mitochondria. Under the influence of MCY-LR, small, round-shaped mitochondria appeared, while long/fused mitochondria were typical in control plants. Presumably, MCY-LR either inhibits the fusion of mitochondria or induces fission. Consequently, PP2A also plays an important role in the fusion of mitochondria. MCY-LR also increased the frequency of stromules appearing on chloroplasts after 1 h treatments. Along the stromules, signals can be transported between plastids and endoplasmic reticulum. It is probable that they promote a faster response to stress.

Allium ursinum (wild garlic) has long been collected and consumed as food and medicine in the north temperate zone, where its popularity is growing. Colchicum autumnale and Convallaria majalis contain toxic alkaloids. Their habitats overlap, and without flowers, their vegetative organs are similar. Confusing the leaves of Colchicum or Convallaria with the leaves of wild garlic has repeatedly led to serious human and animal poisonings. Our goal was to find a histological characteristic that makes the separation of these leaves clear. We compared the anatomy of foliage leaves of these three species grown in the same garden (Debrecen, Hungary, Central Europe). We used a bright-field microscope to characterize the transversal sections of leaves. Cell types of epidermises were compared based on peels and different impressions. We established some significant differences in the histology of leaves. The adaxial peels of Allium consist of only “long” cells without stomata, but the abaxial ones show “long”, “short” and “T” cells with wavy cell walls as a peculiarity, and stomata. Convallaria and Colchicum leaves are amphystomatic, but in the case of Allium, they are hypostomatic. These traits were confirmed with herbarium specimens. Our results help to clearly identify these species even in mixed, dried plant material and may be used for diagnostic purposes.