2025
Martínez, D. N.; de la Barrera, E.
Enzymatic activity responses to transport and low-temperature storage: implication for plant nitrogen metabolism studies Journal Article
In: Nitrogen, vol. 6, 2025, ISBN: 2504-3129.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: disturbance, neotropical, nitrate reductase, nitrogen deposition, phosphorus, planetary boundaries, plant nutrition, tropical forest, urban ecology
@article{Martínez2025,
title = {Enzymatic activity responses to transport and low-temperature storage: implication for plant nitrogen metabolism studies},
author = {D. N. Martínez and E. de la Barrera},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/6/1/5
https://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/077-Martinez-N-cold-enzymes.pdf},
doi = {10.3390/nitrogen6010005},
isbn = {2504-3129},
year = {2025},
date = {2025-01-16},
urldate = {2025-01-16},
journal = {Nitrogen},
volume = {6},
abstract = {Understanding how transport and storage conditions affect enzymatic activity is essential for accurate biomonitoring of nitrogen metabolism in plants. This study evaluated the effects of transport conditions and low-temperature storage on the enzymatic activities of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and phosphomonoesterase (PME) for Chloris gayana, Fraxinus uhdei, and Trifolium repens. Enzymatic activities were measured for leaf samples immediately after collection, after 18 h at room temperature, or after 18 h on ice. Additionally, samples were stored at –16°C or –45°C for up to 28 days. NR activity decreased to near-zero levels under all storage conditions, indicating that this enzyme is unsuitable for delayed analysis. In contrast, GS and PME activities showed species-dependent responses to storage, with increased activity ob-served for T. repens and C. gayana, potentially reflecting tissue degradation processes. F. uhdei exhibited greater stability in enzyme activities, suggesting a higher resilience to storage. These findings highlight the importance of minimizing storage time to preserve enzymatic integrity, particularly for NR, while providing insight into the potential for delayed analysis of GS and PME in specific species. This work offers practical recommendations for future biomonitoring ef-forts in nitrogen deposition studies.},
keywords = {disturbance, neotropical, nitrate reductase, nitrogen deposition, phosphorus, planetary boundaries, plant nutrition, tropical forest, urban ecology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2024
Martínez, D. N.; Vibrans, H.; Espinosa-García, F. J.; Camacho-Cervantes, M.; de la Barrera, E.
Malezas ruderales como biomonitores del depósito de nitrógeno urbano Journal Article
In: Ecosistemas, vol. 33, iss. 2, no. 2672, 2024, ISSN: 1697-2473.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: anthropocene, biomonitoring, invasive species, nitrogen, nitrogen deposition, plant nutrition, pollution, urban ecology
@article{Martínez2024,
title = {Malezas ruderales como biomonitores del depósito de nitrógeno urbano},
author = {D. N. Martínez and H. Vibrans and F.J. Espinosa-García and M. Camacho-Cervantes and E. de la Barrera},
url = {https://www.revistaecosistemas.net/index.php/ecosistemas/article/view/2672
https://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/075-Martinezetal-Ecosistemas-Malezas-biomonitoras.pdf},
doi = {10.7818/ECOS.2672},
issn = {1697-2473},
year = {2024},
date = {2024-07-17},
urldate = {2024-07-17},
journal = {Ecosistemas},
volume = {33},
number = {2672},
issue = {2},
abstract = {The production of reactive forms of nitrogen has surpassed safe planetary boundaries, jeopardizing the proper functioning of ecosystems. Their deposition is a threat to both biodiversity and public health. Monitoring systems to quantify nitrogen deposition are often lacking, making biomonitoring a potential alternative. In biomonitoring, physiological variables responsive to nitrogen availability are identified, along with organisms tolerant to high nitrogen availability. Although epiphytic organisms are frequently used as biomonitors, many are confined to humid climates and areas with minimal anthropogenic disturbance. The aim of this review is to identify potential nitrogen deposition biomonitors for sites under anthropic disturbance. Ruderal weeds persist and thrive in urban areas, where disturbance, pollutant emissions, and nitrogen deposition rates are often high. Moreover, several weeds are identified as nitrophilic, and within a well-represented group among them, grasses, tolerance to high nitrogen deposition rates has been documented. The use of these organisms has allowed for the identification of contributions from nitrogen sources and the increase of nitrogen in environments that are restrictive for other plants.},
keywords = {anthropocene, biomonitoring, invasive species, nitrogen, nitrogen deposition, plant nutrition, pollution, urban ecology},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
2021
Martínez, D. N.; de la Barrera, E.
Physiological screening of ruderal weed biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen deposition Journal Article
In: Botanical Sciences, vol. 99, no. 3, pp. 573-587, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: atmospheric pollution, biomass, chlorophyll, invasive species, nitrate reductase, nitrogen, plant nutrition, stable isotopes
@article{Martínez2021,
title = {Physiological screening of ruderal weed biomonitors of atmospheric nitrogen deposition},
author = {D. N. Martínez and E. de la Barrera },
url = {https://botanicalsciences.com.mx/index.php/botanicalSciences/article/view/2789},
doi = {10.17129/botsci.2789},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-05-18},
journal = {Botanical Sciences},
volume = {99},
number = {3},
pages = {573-587},
abstract = {Background: Plants take up various species of reactive nitrogen and their different physiological responses to the increase of nitrogen availability can be useful in biomonitoring.
Questions: Does atmospheric nitrogen deposition affect the physiology of ruderal weeds? Which species are most responsive to the nitrogen deposition?
Studied species: Eleven ruderal weeds.
Study site and dates: Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. 2019.
Methods: Under scenarios of 10, 20, 40 and 80 kg N ha-1year-1, we quantified plant responses of biomass production, nitrate reductase activity, chlorophyll content, fluorescence, δ15N, nitrogen and carbon content.
Results: Total biomass production increased with the rate of nitrogen deposition for Bidens pilosa, Chloris gayana, Lepidium virginicum, and Pennisetum setaceum, as chlorophyll content in B. pilosa, C. gayana, and L. virginicum. In turn, the below- to above-ground biomass ratio decreased for B. pilosa and C. gayana, as photosynthetic efficiency in C. gayana, L. virginicum, and Chloris pycnothrix. Nitrate reductase activity was only affected in L. virginicumm, C. gayana, and T. officinale.
With the exception of C. pycnothrix, the nitrogen content increased, while the carbon augmented in C. gayana, C. pycnothrix, and P. setaceum. The C/N ratio was reduced in B. pilosa, C. gayana, Chloris virgata, P. setaceum, and T. officinale. The δ15N was increased in B. pilosa, C. gayana, C. virgata and P. setaceum.
Conclusions: Bidens pilosa, C. gayana, L. virginicum, and P. setaceum were the species with more affected variables to nitrogen deposition, which could be useful in the biomonitoring.
},
keywords = {atmospheric pollution, biomass, chlorophyll, invasive species, nitrate reductase, nitrogen, plant nutrition, stable isotopes},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Questions: Does atmospheric nitrogen deposition affect the physiology of ruderal weeds? Which species are most responsive to the nitrogen deposition?
Studied species: Eleven ruderal weeds.
Study site and dates: Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. 2019.
Methods: Under scenarios of 10, 20, 40 and 80 kg N ha-1year-1, we quantified plant responses of biomass production, nitrate reductase activity, chlorophyll content, fluorescence, δ15N, nitrogen and carbon content.
Results: Total biomass production increased with the rate of nitrogen deposition for Bidens pilosa, Chloris gayana, Lepidium virginicum, and Pennisetum setaceum, as chlorophyll content in B. pilosa, C. gayana, and L. virginicum. In turn, the below- to above-ground biomass ratio decreased for B. pilosa and C. gayana, as photosynthetic efficiency in C. gayana, L. virginicum, and Chloris pycnothrix. Nitrate reductase activity was only affected in L. virginicumm, C. gayana, and T. officinale.
With the exception of C. pycnothrix, the nitrogen content increased, while the carbon augmented in C. gayana, C. pycnothrix, and P. setaceum. The C/N ratio was reduced in B. pilosa, C. gayana, Chloris virgata, P. setaceum, and T. officinale. The δ15N was increased in B. pilosa, C. gayana, C. virgata and P. setaceum.
Conclusions: Bidens pilosa, C. gayana, L. virginicum, and P. setaceum were the species with more affected variables to nitrogen deposition, which could be useful in the biomonitoring.
2015
Díaz-Álvarez, E. A.; Lindig-Cisneros, R.; de la Barrera, E.
Responses to simulated nitrogen deposition by the neotropical epiphytic orchid Laelia speciosa Journal Article
In: PeerJ, vol. 3, pp. e1021, 2015.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: acid rain, biodiversity, CAM, conservation physiology, d15N, global change, Laelia, neotropical, nitrogen, orchid, plant nutrition, pollution, stable isotopes
@article{Díaz-Álvarez2015,
title = {Responses to simulated nitrogen deposition by the neotropical epiphytic orchid Laelia speciosa},
author = {E. A. Díaz-Álvarez and R. Lindig-Cisneros and E. de la Barrera},
url = {https://peerj.com/articles/1021/
https://agro.mx/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/031-Díaz-Alvarez-et-al-2015-PeerJ-Laelia.pdf},
doi = {10.7717/peerj.1021},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-06-18},
journal = {PeerJ},
volume = {3},
pages = {e1021},
abstract = {Potential ecophysiological responses to nitrogen deposition, which is considered to be one of the leading causes for global biodiversity loss, were studied for the endangered endemic Mexican epiphytic orchid, Laelia speciosa, via a shadehouse dose-response experiment (doses were 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 kg N ha-1 yr-1) in order to assess the potential risk facing this orchid given impending scenarios of nitrogen deposition. Lower doses of nitrogen of up to 20 kg N ha yr–1, the dose that led to optimal plant performance, acted as fertilizer. For instance, the production of leaves and pseudobulbs were respectively 35% and 36% greater for plants receiving 20 kg N ha yr–1 than under any other dose. Also, the chlorophyll content and quantum yield peaked at 0.66 ± 0.03 g m-2 and 0.85 ± 0.01, respectively, for plants growing under the optimum dose. In contrast, toxic effects were observed at the higher doses of 40 and 80 kg N ha yr–1. The δ13C for leaves averaged –14.7 ± 0.2‰ regardless of the nitrogen dose. In turn, δ15N decreased as the nitrogen dose increased from 0.9 ±0.1‰ under 2.5 kg N ha-1 yr-1 to – 3.1 ± 0.2 ‰ under 80 kg N ha-1 yr-1, indicating that orchids preferentially assimilate NH4+ rather than NO3– of the solution under higher doses of nitrogen. Laelia speciosa showed a clear response to inputs of nitrogen, thus, increasing rates of atmospheric nitrogen deposition can pose an important threat for this species.},
keywords = {acid rain, biodiversity, CAM, conservation physiology, d15N, global change, Laelia, neotropical, nitrogen, orchid, plant nutrition, pollution, stable isotopes},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}