Repression of the auxin response pathway increases Arabidopsis susceptibility to necrotrophic fungi

In plants, resistance to necrotrophic pathogens depends on the interplay between different hormone systems, such as those regulated by salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), ethylene, and abscisic acid. Repression of auxin signaling by the SA pathway was recently shown to contribute to antibacterial resistance. Here, we demonstrate that Arabidopsis auxin signaling mutants axr1, axr2, and axr6 that have defects in the auxin-stimulated SCF (Skp1¿Cullin¿ F-box) ubiquitination pathway exhibit increased susceptibility to the necrotrophic fungi Plectosphaerella cucumerina and Botrytis cinerea. Also, stabilization of the auxin transcriptional repressor AXR3 that is normally targeted for removal by the SCF-ubiquitin/proteasome machinery occurs upon P. cucumerina infection. Pharmacological inhibition of auxin transport or proteasome function each compromise necrotroph resistance of wild-type plants to a similar extent as in non-treated auxin response mutants. These results suggest that auxin signaling is important for resistance to the necrotrophic fungi P. cucumerina and B. cinerea. SGT1b (one of two Arabidopsis SGT1 genes encoding HSP90/HSC70 co-chaperones) promotes the functions of SCF E3-ubiquitin ligase complexes in auxin and JA responses and resistance conditioned by certain Resistance (R) genes to biotrophic pathogens. We find that sgt1b mutants are as resistant to P. cucumerina as wild-type plants. Conversely, auxin/SCF signaling mutants are uncompromised in RPP4-triggered resistance to the obligate biotrophic oomycete, Hyaloperonospora parasitica. Thus, the predominant action of SGT1b in R gene-conditioned resistance to oomycetes appears to be at a site other than assisting SCF E3-ubiquitin ligases. However, genetic additivity of sgt1b axr1 double mutants in susceptibility to H. parasitica suggests that SCF-mediated ubiquitination contributes to limiting biotrophic pathogen colonization once plant¿pathogen compatibility is established

SlutWalk - Resignifizierung von Feminitäten und Feminismen

"Seit 2011 fanden weltweit Demonstrationen statt, die sich unter der Bezeichnung SlutWalk artikulierten. Diese neue feministische Interventionsform nutzt dabei die ambivalente Strategie, sich den Begriff der slut visuell und sprachpolitisch anzueignen, um gegen Geschlechternormen zu protestieren. Der Beitrag skizziert das soziale Phänomen der SlutWalks und strebt an, diese Protestform feministisch zu kontextualisieren und die visuellen und sprachlichen Strategien als symbolische Politikformen zu erfassen. Hierzu wird Judith Butlers sprachpolitisches Modell der Resignifizierung hinsichtlich der Selbstbezeichnung slut erörtert. Diese Theoretisierung der sprachlich-subversiven Strategie wird auf der Ebene visueller und körperpolitischer Interventionen erweitert. Daran anschließend wird die Einbindung feministischer Diskurse in die neoliberale Ideologie unter dem Topos des Postfeminismus diskutiert." (Autorenreferat)"Rallies called SlutWalks have been held around the world since 2011. This new form of feminist intervention uses the ambivalent strategy of reclaiming the term 'slut' in order to protest against hegemonic gender norms. This article sketches this social phenomenon and aims to contextualize the protest within feminisms and to capture the visual as well as linguistic strategies, which then become forms of symbolic political action. Judith Butler's linguistic-political model of resignification will be elaborated in regard to the self-designation slut. The approach applied to theorizing this linguistic-subversive strategy is extended to the level of visual and body political interventions. Subsequently, the integration of feminist discourses in neoliberal ideology is explored with respect to the topos of postfeminism." (author's abstract

Verwerfen und Vernichten: Rezension zu "Vernichten" von Michel Houellebecq

Michel Houellebecq: Vernichten. Köln: Dumont 2022. 978-3-8321-8193-

SlutWalk – Resignifizierung von Feminitäten und Feminismen

Seit 2011 fanden weltweit Demonstrationen statt, die sich unter der Bezeichnung Slut-Walk artikulierten. Diese neue feministische Interventionsform nutzt dabei die ambivalente Strategie, sich den Begriff der slut visuell und sprachpolitisch anzueignen, um gegen Geschlechternormen zu protestieren. Der Beitrag skizziert das soziale Phänomen der SlutWalks und strebt an, diese Protestform feministisch zu kontextualisieren und die visuellen und sprachlichen Strategien als symbolische Politikformen zu erfassen. Hierzu wird Judith Butlers sprachpolitisches Modell der Resignifizierung hinsichtlich der Selbstbezeichnung slut erörtert. Diese Theoretisierung der sprachlich-subversiven Strategie wird auf der Ebene visueller und körperpolitischer Interventionen erweitert. Daran anschließend wird die Einbindung feministischer Diskurse in die neoliberale Ideologie unter dem Topos des Postfeminismus diskutiert

Variation in host and pathogen in the Neonectria/Malus interaction; toward an understanding of the genetic basis of resistance to European canker

Apple canker caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Neonectria ditissima is an economically important disease, which has spread in recent years to almost all pome-producing regions of the world. N. ditissima is able to cross-infect a wide range of apple varieties and causes branch and trunk lesions, known as cankers. Most modern apple varieties are susceptible and in extreme cases suffer from high mortality (up to 50%) in the early phase of orchard establishment. There is no known race structure of the pathogen and the global level of genetic diversity of the pathogen population is unknown. Resistance breeding is underway in many global breeding programmes, but nevertheless, a total resistance to canker has not yet been demonstrated. Here we present preliminary data from a survey of the phylogenetic relationships between global isolates of N. ditissima which reveals only slight evidence for population structure. In addition we report the results of four rapid screening tests to assess the response to N. ditissima in different apple scion and rootstock varieties, which reveals abundant variation in resistance responses in both cultivar and rootstock material. Further seedling tests show that the segregation patterns of resistance and susceptibility vary widely between crosses. We discuss inconsistencies in test performance with field observations and discuss future research opportunities in this area

Debt and Desire: Differential Exploitation and Gendered Dimensions of Debt and Austerity

Austerity as management of public debt is at the core of neoliberal policies and proceeds as differential exploitation. To explore the gendered dimensions of debt, the paper inquires how debt is bond to desire and inscribed in bodies. After indulging in David Graeber’s, Gilles Deleuze’s and Félix Guttari’s work, the analysis focuses on accumulation through debt and dispossession. Drawing on Verónica Gago, Luci Cavallero and Silvia Federici, it reflects how current economies of debt exploit feminized work in times of authoritarian neoliberalism. The paper sheds light on solidaristic struggles against austerity that manifest a desire for social transformation and economies of care

Accumulation of anthocyanins in tomato skin extends shelf life

Shelf life is one of the most important traits for the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) industry. Two key factors, post-harvest over-ripening and susceptibility to post-harvest pathogen infection, determine tomato shelf life. Anthocyanins accumulate in the skin of Aft/Aft atv/atv tomatoes, the result of introgressing alleles affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis in fruit from two wild relatives of tomato, which results in extended fruit shelf life. Compared with ordinary, anthocyanin-less tomatoes, the fruits of Aft/Aft atv/atv keep longer during storage and are less susceptible to Botrytis cinerea, a major tomato pathogen, post-harvest. Using genetically modified tomatoes over-producing anthocyanins, we confirmed that skin-specific accumulation of anthocyanins in tomato is sufficient to reduce the susceptibility of fruit to Botrytis cinerea. Our data indicate that accumulation of anthocyanins in tomato fruit, achieved either by traditional breeding or genetic engineering can be an effective way to extend tomato shelf life

SlutWalk - Resignifizierung von Feminitäten und Feminismen

"Seit 2011 fanden weltweit Demonstrationen statt, die sich unter der Bezeichnung SlutWalk artikulierten. Diese neue feministische Interventionsform nutzt dabei die ambivalente Strategie, sich den Begriff der slut visuell und sprachpolitisch anzueignen, um gegen Geschlechternormen zu protestieren. Der Beitrag skizziert das soziale Phänomen der SlutWalks und strebt an, diese Protestform feministisch zu kontextualisieren und die visuellen und sprachlichen Strategien als symbolische Politikformen zu erfassen. Hierzu wird Judith Butlers sprachpolitisches Modell der Resignifizierung hinsichtlich der Selbstbezeichnung slut erörtert. Diese Theoretisierung der sprachlich-subversiven Strategie wird auf der Ebene visueller und körperpolitischer Interventionen erweitert. Daran anschließend wird die Einbindung feministischer Diskurse in die neoliberale Ideologie unter dem Topos des Postfeminismus diskutiert." (Autorenreferat)"Rallies called SlutWalks have been held around the world since 2011. This new form of feminist intervention uses the ambivalent strategy of reclaiming the term 'slut' in order to protest against hegemonic gender norms. This article sketches this social phenomenon and aims to contextualize the protest within feminisms and to capture the visual as well as linguistic strategies, which then become forms of symbolic political action. Judith Butler's linguistic-political model of resignification will be elaborated in regard to the self-designation slut. The approach applied to theorizing this linguistic-subversive strategy is extended to the level of visual and body political interventions. Subsequently, the integration of feminist discourses in neoliberal ideology is explored with respect to the topos of postfeminism." (author's abstract

Contrasting effects of necrotrophic and biotrophic plant pathogens on the aphid Aphis fabae

Phytophagous insects have to contend with a wide variation in food quality brought about by a variety of factors intrinsic and extrinsic to the plant. One of the most important factors is infection by plant pathogenic fungi. Necrotrophic and biotrophic plant pathogenic fungi may have contrasting effects on insect herbivores due to their different infection mechanisms and induction of different resistance pathways, although this has been little studied and there has been no study of their combined effect. We studied the effect of the biotrophic rust fungus Uromyces viciae-fabae (Pers.) Schroet (Basidiomycota: Uredinales: Pucciniaceae) and the necrotrophic fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. (Ascomycota: Helotiales: Sclerotiniaceae) singly and together on the performance of the aphid Aphis fabae Scop. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Vicia faba (L.) (Fabaceae). Alone, botrytis had an inhibitory effect on individual A. fabae development, survival and fecundity, while rust infection consistently enhanced individual aphids’ performance. These effects varied in linear relation to lesion or pustule density. However, whole-plant infection by either pathogen resulted in a smaller aphid population of smaller aphids than on uninfected plants, indicating a lowering of aphid carrying capacity with infection. When both fungi were applied simultaneously to a leaf they generally cancelled the effect of each other out, resulting in most performance parameters being similar to the controls, although fecundity was reduced. However, sequential plant infection (pathogens applied five days apart) led to a 70% decrease in fecundity and 50% reduction in intrinsic rate of increase. The application of rust before botrytis had a greater inhibitory effect on aphids than applying botrytis before rust. Rust infection increased leaf total nitrogen concentration by 30% while infection by botrytis with or without rust led to a 38% decrease. The aphids’ responses to the two plant pathogens individually is consistent with the alteration in plant nutrient content by infection and also the induction of different plant defence pathways and the possible cross-talk between them. This is the first demonstration of the complex effects of the dual infection of a plant by contrasting pathogens on insect herbivores. Key words: Vicia faba, Botrytis cinerea, Uromyces viciae-fabae, tripartite interactions, induced resistanc