High impact information on Coniferophyta

• We introduce two sequence data sets from slowly evolving mitochondrial genes, cox1 and atpA, which unambiguously reject the anthophyte hypothesis, favoring instead a close relationship between Gnetales and conifers [1].
• Sequence comparison revealed that these monoterpene synthases from grand fir resemble sesquiterpene (C15) synthases and diterpene (C20) synthases from conifers more closely than other monoterpene synthases from angiosperm species [2].
• The penalty of a long, hot summer. Photosynthetic acclimation to high CO2 and continuous light in "living fossil" conifers [3].
• Sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate (SDBS) is an anionic synthetic detergent found in polluted sea aerosol and is known for its harmful effects on leaf surface ultrastructure on conifers and broadleaved trees [4].
• A 335-bp segment of the NADH dehydrogenase F (ndhF) gene from a representative of each non-flowering vascular plant division (Coniferophyta, Filicophyta, Ginkgophyta, Gnetophyta, Lycophyta, Psilophyta, Sphenophyta) has been sequenced and aligned with those of rice, tobacco, an orchid and a liverwort [5].

Biological context of Coniferophyta

• Diterpenoid resin acid biosynthesis in conifers: enzymatic cyclization of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate to abietadiene, the precursor of abietic acid [6].

Associations of Coniferophyta with chemical compounds

• The complex mixture of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes that comprises oleoresin provides the primary defense of conifers against bark beetles and their associated fungal pathogens [7].
• Induction of anatomically based defense responses in stems of diverse conifers by methyl jasmonate: a phylogenetic perspective [8].
• We infer that some additional nitrate under older conifers is thus independent of catchment sources associated with increasing hardness [9].
• Evidence for coniferyl-alcohol oxidase promotion of lignification in developing xylem of conifers [10].
• [1,2-14C]TCA of a high specific activity (3.7 GBq/mmol) and appropriate radioindicator techniques were used, to study the effect of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) on conifers [11].

Gene context of Coniferophyta

• The chlB gene encoding a subunit of light-independent protochlorophyllide reductase is edited in chloroplasts of conifers [12].
• Diterpenoid resin acid biosynthesis in conifers: characterization of two cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases and an aldehyde dehydrogenase involved in abietic acid biosynthesis [13].
• Sequence comparison revealed that these new monoterpene synthases from grand fir are members of the Tpsd gene subfamily and resemble sesquiterpene (C(15)) synthases and diterpene (C(20)) synthases from conifers more closely than mechanistically related monoterpene synthases from angiosperm species [14].
• We studied reflectance of two co-occurring Alaskan conifers, black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss), at elevations from 60 to 930 m a.s.l. along a latitudinal gradient from 61 degrees to 68 degrees N [15].
• Coniferyl alcohol metabolism in conifers -- I. Glucosidic turnover of cinnamyl aldehydes by UDPG: coniferyl alcohol glucosyltransferase from pine cambium [16].

References