Laboratory of Physiology of Abiotic Stress

Head: Professor PhD. Paweł M. Pukacki

Scientific staff:

  • Dr. E. Kamińska-Rożek Adres poczty elektronicznej jest chroniony przed robotami spamującymi. W przeglądarce musi być włączona obsługa JavaScript, żeby go zobaczyć.
  • Professor PhD.  Paweł M. Pukacki, Associate Professor Adres poczty elektronicznej jest chroniony przed robotami spamującymi. W przeglądarce musi być włączona obsługa JavaScript, żeby go zobaczyć.
  • Katarzyna Juszczyk, PhD student Adres poczty elektronicznej jest chroniony przed robotami spamującymi. W przeglądarce musi być włączona obsługa JavaScript, żeby go zobaczyć.
  • Agata Obarska, PhD student Adres poczty elektronicznej jest chroniony przed robotami spamującymi. W przeglądarce musi być włączona obsługa JavaScript, żeby go zobaczyć.

Technical staff:

  • Mariola Matelska


Research interests:

Laboratory of the Physiology of Abiotic Stress was created in 1996. Studies on the stress caused by low temperatures have been initiated in 1969. Interest concentrated on determining the effect of physiological and biophysical factors on the value of electrical parameters in tree tissues and the use of electrical admittance and impedance for the cold resistant trees. Studies also concentrated on the determination of the function of deep supercooling of tissue water in the process of freezing, ice formation, and frost injures on the thermotropic nature and components of the cytoplasmatic membranes and the role of phospholipids, fatty acids and sterols, in relation to frost, freezing-desiccation and water-stress. We also are studying the effect of air pollution and enhanced UV-B irradiation stresses on inhibition of photosynthesis, pigment concentrations and the role of antioxidative system.

General, studies have focused on elucidating the mechanisms for freezing and desiccation tolerance, including the antioxidant system. We are testing the hypothesis that conifer seedlings can be 'immunized' to enhance their tolerance of stress through the use natural antifreeze proteins (AFPs).

Our lab is currently out identification and characterization of (AFPs) and ice nucleators (INA), involved in intercellular ice formation.

We are studying the relationship between function of AFP-proteins and cold resistance. Our research involves the isolation and characterization of AFPproteins from different species of genera: Acer, Abies, Fagus, Picea: Quercus, Tsuga and Pseudotsuga, Tsuga. Our results demonstrate that AFPs from Acer, Fagus, Quercus embryo axes and apoplastic proteins of needles from coniferous species have specific cryoprotective activity and modify the freezing process in tissues. The especially, high cryoprotective effect indicated protein fraction below 30 kDa form embryonic axes. The AFPs from Acer platanoides embryo axes froze 2-fold slowly than bovine serum albumin (BSA) or water (see the film below).

Representative publications:

2009

  1. Jarząbek M., Pukacki P.M., Nuc K. 2009. Cold-regulated proteins with potent antifreeze and cryoprotective activities in spruces (Picea spp.). Cryobiology 58:268-274. FULL TEXT
  2. Jarząbek M. 2009. Function and role of plant AFPs in frost hardening of spruces. PhD Thesis. Institute of Dendrology PAN, Kórnik. Pp 1-105. ABSTRACT
  3. Pukacki P. M., Juszczyk K., Bojarczuk K., Hoffmann, S. K. 2009. Desiccation and reactive oxygen species mediated changes in Acer embryo axes through cryopreservation COST Action 871. Crypreservation of European Crop Species, 13-14 April, Royal Botanic Garden, Kew Wakehurst Place, UK, pp 22-23.
  4. Pukacki P.M. M. Jarzabek, S. Pukacka. 2009. Characterization of cryoprotective activity of protein in Acer, Fagus and Quercus embryonic axes. 1 st International Symposium Cryopreservation in Horticultural Species, Leuven, Belgium 5-8 April. Abstracts Book, pp 117-117.

2008-2007

  1. Pukacki, P. M., Jarząbek M., Jóźwiak W., Lütz C. 2008. Characterization of cryoprotective activity of thermal hysteresis protein in evergreen plants. MTT Agrifood Research Finland. 153:31-32. ISBN 978-952-487-156-3 117-117.
  2. Pukacki P.M. 2007. Cryoprotective and antifreeze activity of apoplastic proteins in winter hardiness of conifers. In: Abstract Book and CD, Crypreserwation of crop species in Europe, First Meeting of Working Group 1. Oviedo, Spain, 13-14 April, pp.22-22.
  3. Jarząbek M., Pukacki P.M. 2007. Biochemical and biophysical function of apoplastic proteins from Picea abies and Picea pungens W: Streszczenia referatów i plakatów54 Zjazd Polskiego Towarzystwa Botanicznego, Szczecin, pp 49-50.
  4. Pukacki P.M., P. Chmielarz, K. Bojarczuk, W. Wesoły. 2007. Survival of apical meristems of aspen after cryopreservation and slow thawing. In: Abstract Book and CD, COST Action 871. 1st Meeting of Working Group 2. 10-12 May, Florence, Italy, pp 23-23.

 

2006-2004

  1. Rucińska-Sobkowiak R., Pukacki P. M. (2006). Antioxidative defense system in lupin roots exposed to increasing concentrations of lead. Acta Physiol. Plantarum. 28:357-364.
  2. Świderska M., Pukacki P.M., 2006. Cryoprotective and antifreeze activity of apoplastic protein from cold-hardy conifers.: In: XV Congress of Federation of European Societies of Plant Biology- FESPB. Book of Abstracts, Lyon-Francja, 17-21 July, pp188-188.
  3. Pukacki P.M., Kamińska-Rożek E., 2005. Effect of water stress on chlorophyll a fluorescence and electrical admittance of shoots in Norway spruce seedlings. Trees 19:539-544
  4. Pukacki P.M., Przybył K., 2005. Frost injury as a possible inciting factor in bud and shoot necroses of Fraxinus excelsior (L.). J. Phytopathology 153:512-516.
  5. Kamińska-Rożek E., Pukacki P.M. 2005. Effect of freezing desiccation on cold hardiness, ROS, membrane lipid levels and antioxidant status in Picea abies seedlings. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol. 3:219-228.
  6. Pukacki P.M. 2005. The role of antifreeze proteins on cold tolerance of plants. W: Referaty XIV Seminarium Grupy Roboczej "Mrozoodporność", T. Hołubowicz (ed.), Polska Akademia Nauk, Kórnik, AR-Poznań, pp. 36-38.
  7. Pukacka S. , Hoffman S.K. , Goslar J., Pukacki P.M., Wójkiewicz E. 2003. Water relations in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seeds and its effect on storage behaviour. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1621:48-56.
  8. Pukacka S. , Hoffman S.K. , Goslar J., Pukacki P.M., Wójkiewicz E. 2003. Water relations in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seeds and its effect on storage behaviour. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1621:48-56.
  9. Kamińska-Rożek E. 2003. The role of antioxidant system in response to cold tolerance and water stress in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings. Ph.D. thesis, Institute of Dendrology, Dissertations, pp. 1-100. (in Polish)
  10. Pukacki P.M., Chałupka W. 2003. Environmental pollution changes membrane lipids, antioxidants and vitality of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) pollen. Acta Soc. Bot. Pol., 72:99-104.
  11. Pukacki P.M., Modrzyński J. 1998. The influence of ultraviolet-B radiation on the growth, pigment production and chlorophyll fluorescence of Norway spruce seedlings. Acta Physiol. Plant., 20:245-250.

 

Grants from:

  • Polish Ministry of Sciences and Education (PMSE)
  • Polish Forest Ministry (PFM)

2003-2012.

  1. Molecular and physiological changes in cryopreserved embryonic axes of recalcitrant, suborthodox and orthodox seeds (PMSE)
  2. Biochemical and physiological studies on molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) (PMSE)
  3. Biochemical basis of productivity of Fagus sylvatica seeds (PMSE)
  4. Studies on vitality of tree seedlings in various environmental stress conditions (PFM)
  5. Physiological basis of the tolerance to ecological stress: drought, frost and UV (PMSE)