Jamali Jaghdani, S., Jahns, P. & Tränkner, M. (2021): The impact of magnesium deficiency on photosynthesis and photoprotection in Spinacia oleracea. Plant Stress, 2, 100040; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2021.100040.
Institute
Junior Professor Dr. Merle Tränkner
From June 2017 until May 2021, Dr. Merle Tränkner was junior professor for “Applied Plant Nutrition“ at IAPN and at the Department of Crop Sciences at the University of Göttingen. In addition to research and teaching, her professorship included heading the junior research group at IAPN. At the institute, she was also one of the primary contributors to the exchange of knowledge, such as interdisciplinary events.
Research on magnesium: photo protection and water-use efficiency
Junior Professor Dr. Merle Tränkner (Photo: IAPN)
In her research, Merle Tränkner picked up on questions that had come up during her PhD research project. “For my dissertation, I had primarily concentrated on the plant nutrient magnesium (Mg), which actually has many functions in photosynthesis. Now, two resulting research questions are subjected to in-depth research”, Merle Tränkner explained. “In case of Mg deficiency, plant cells are no longer able to sufficiently transform the light energy they have absorbed and convert it into sugar by photosynthesis. This results in excessive energy, which promotes the formation of cell-damaging reactive oxygen species. Plants have developed protective mechanisms against the detrimental effects of too much intensive light. To study these mechanisms is one focus of my current research.”
The second focal point is water-use efficiency. “During my PhD studies I was able to show that Mg modifies water-use efficiency”, said Merle Tränkner. “Together with IAPN scientists I am now trying to find out how that happens.”
Teaching at IAPN: theory and practice in interaction
Topical research results and methods directly informed the courses held by Junior Professor Merle Tränkner. Both her Bachelor course as well as her Master module were interactive, connecting theory with practice. In the junior professor’s opinion, lectures should not only aim at imparting lots of facts: “They should also aim at creating an understanding in students, enabling them to abstract. This type of understanding will allow them to benefit long-term. All of my course participants are eager to learn, and they’re highly motivated. And this in turn strongly motivates me”, said Merle Tränkner.
Dr. Merle Tränkner was appointed junior professor in June 2017. Before, she carried out her PhD project at IAPN from October 2012 until December 2016. During this time, she specifically studied the impact of Mg, nitrogen and potassium on the water-use efficiency of wheat, barley and tobacco. Additionally, she worked with a multi-sensing approach. It allowed evaluating the effect of drought stress and nutrient deficiency on crops by means of thermography, chlorophyll-fluorescence, gas exchange measurements as well as 13C stable isotope analyses.
In 2010, Merle Tränkner had finished her Bachelor’s in agricultural sciences at the University of Göttingen, and subsequently went on to complete her Master’s in the degree program “Sustainable International Agriculture“.
Publications
Publications in refereed journals and refereed conference proceedings.
Hou, W.; Tränkner, M.; Lu, J.; Yan, J.; Huang, S.; Ren, T.; Cong, R. & Li, X. (2020) Diagnosis of nitrogen nutrition in rice leaves influenced by potassium levels. Frontiers in Plant Science, doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00165.
Jamali Jaghdani, S.; Jahns, P. & Tränkner, M. (2020): Mg deficiency induces photo-oxidative stress primarily by limiting CO2 assimilation and not by limiting photosynthetic light utilization. Plant Science, doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110751.
Nogueira, A.F. Jr.; Tränkner, M.; Ribeiro, R.V.; von Tiedemann, A. & L. Amorim (2020) Photosynthetic cost associated with inducible defenses to Plasmopara viticola in grapevine. Frontiers in Plant Science - Plant Microbe Interactions, doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00235.
Suriyagoda, L.; Tränkner, M. & Dittert, K. (2020) Effects of potassium nutrition and water availability on iron toxicity of rice at seedling stage. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 43, 2350-2367, doi.org/10.1080/01904167.2020.1771578.
Hauer-Jákli, M. & Tränkner, M. (2019): Critical leaf magnesium thresholds and the impact of magnesium on plant growth and photo-oxidative defense: A systematic review and meta-analysis from 70 years of research. Frontiers in Plant Science, doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00766.
Hou, W.; Tränkner, M.; Lu, J.; Yan, J.; Huang,S.; Ren, T.; Cong, R. & Li, X. (2019): Interactive effects of nitrogen and potassium on photosynthesis and photosynthetic nitrogen allocation of rice leaves. BMC Plant Biology, doi: 10.1186/S12870-019-1894-8.
Tränkner, M. & Jamali Jaghdani, S. (2019) Minimum magnesium concentrations for photosynthetic efficiency in wheat and sunflower seedlings. Journal of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry 144, 234-243. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2019.09.040.
Tränkner, M.; Tavakol, E. & Jákli, B. (2018): Functioning of potassium and magnesium in photosynthesis, photosynthate translocation and photoprotection. Physiol. Plantarum, 163, 414-431.
Jákli, B.; Tavakol, E.; Tränkner, M.; Senbayram, M. & Dittert, K. (2017) Quantitative limitations to photosynthesis in K deficient sunflower and their implications on water-use efficiency. Journal of Plant Physiology 209, 20-30.
Jákli, B.; Tränkner, M.; Senbayram, M. & Dittert, K. (2016): Adequate supply of potassium improves plant water-use efficiency but not leaf water-use efficiency of spring wheat. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 179, 733-745.
Tränkner, M.; Jákli, B.; Tavakol, E.; Geilfus, C.M.; Cakmak, I.; Dittert, K. & Senbayram, M. (2016) Magnesium deficiency decreases biomass water-use efficiency and increases leaf water-use efficiency and oxidative stress in barley plants. Plant Soil 406, 409-423.
Senbayram, M.; Tränkner, M.; Dittert, K. & Brück, H. (2015) Daytime leaf water use efficiency does not explain the relationship between plant N status and biomass water-use efficiency of tobacco under non-limiting water supply. J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci. 178, 682-692.
Cabeza, R.A.; Lingner, A.; Liese, R.; Sulieman, S.; Senbayram, M.; Tränkner, M.; Dittert, K. & Schulze, J. (2014) The activity of nodules of the supernodulating mutant Mt(sunn) is not limited by photosynthesis under optimal growth conditions, 5. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 15, 6031-6045.
Senbayram, M.; Tränkner, M.; Dittert, K. & Brück, H. (2013) Nitrogen supply enhances intrinsic but not biomass water use efficiency. In XVII. International Plant Nutrition Colloquium and Boron Satellite Meeting Proceedings Book. pp. 477-479. Sabanci University, Istanbul.
Tränkner, M. (2019) Critical Leaf Magnesium Thresholds for Plant Growth: A systematic review and meta-analysis from 70 years of research. Annual Meeting of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 25th – 27th, Berlin, Germany.
Tränkner, M. (2018) Keynote Speaker: Magnesium nutrition and photoprotection in plants. The 3rd International Symposium on Magnesium, November 25th - 28th, Guangzhou, China.
Jákli, B.; Tavakol, E.; Tränkner, M. & Dittert, K. (2017) Restricted CO2 diffusion through the leaf mesophyll and not stomatal regulation limits photosynthesis in K deficient sunflower. International Plant Nutrition Colloquium (IPNC), August 21st – 24th, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jákli, B.; Tränkner, M.; Tavakol, E. & Dittert, K. (2017) Restricted CO2 diffusion through the leaf mesophyll and not stomatal regulation limits photosynthesis in K deficient crop plants. Frontiers of Potassium, January 25th – 27th, Rome, Italy.
Tränkner, M.; Tavakol, E.; Jákli, B. & Dittert, K. (2017) Photoprotective responses and PSII functionality under Mg deficiency. XVIII. International Plant Nutrition Colloquium (IPNC), August 21st – 24th, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jákli, B.; Senbayram, M.; Tränkner, M.; Tavakol, E. & Dittert, K. (2015) Der Einfluss von Kalium auf die Wassernutzungseffizienz von Weizen – vom einzelnen Blatt zur gesamten Pflanze. International Conference of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 17th – 18th, Göttingen, Germany.
Jákli, B.; Senbayram, M.; Tränkner, M.; Tavakol, E. & Dittert, K. (2015) The role of potassium in optimizing water-use efficiency and drought adaptation - from single leaves to whole plants. 45th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (GfÖ), August 31st – September 04th, Göttingen, Germany.
Tränkner, M.; Jákli, B.; Tavakol, E.; Dittert, K. & Senbayram, M. (2014) Magnesium deficient barley plants have lower biomass water-use efficiency and increased sensitivity to excess light energy. 2nd Magnesium Symposium, November 4th – 6th, São Paulo, Brazil.
Cabrita, P., Tränkner, M. (2021): Effect of magnesium on nitrogen uptake and crop yield in spelt (Triticum spelta L.) using remote sensing methods. Annual Meeting of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP)-Online. September 22nd-24th, Kiel, Germany.
Jamali Jaghdani, S., Jahns, P. & Tränkner, M. (2021): The impact of magnesium deficiency on photosynthesis and photoprotection in spinach. Annual Meeting of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP)-Online. September 22nd-24th, Kiel, Germany.
Jamali Jaghdani, S. & Tränkner, M. (2020): Influence of magnesium on photosynthesis and photoprotection in barley. Molecular Biology of Plants (MBP), February 11th-14th, Maria in der Aue, Wermelskirchen, Germany.
Cabrita, P.; Elm, C.; Erasmi, S. & Tränkner, M. (2019): Study of Crop Response to Magnesium Fertilization through Remote Sensing Methods. Annual Meeting of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 25th – 27th, Berlin, Germany.
Jamali Jaghdani, S. & Tränkner, M. (2019): Influence of Magnesium on photosynthesis and photoprotection in Hordeum vulgare L. Annual Meeting of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 25th – 27th, Berlin, Germany.
Turcios, A. & Tränkner, M. (2019): Importance of potassium for quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) cultivated under moderate saline conditions. Annual Meeting of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 25th – 27th, Berlin, Germany.
Hauer-Jákli, M. & Tränkner, M. (2018): A Meta-analysis Study on the Effects of Mg on Photosynthesis and Plant Growth. The 3rd International Symposium on Magnesium, November 25th -28th, Guangzhou, China.
Jamali Jaghdani, S. & Tränkner, M. (2018): Minimum magnesium supply and its effect on photosynthetic activities in Triticum aestivum and Helianthus annuus. International Conference of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 13th – 14th, Osnabrück, Germany.
Albers, J. & Tränkner, M. (2017) Is Beta vulgaris able to fully recover from Mg deficiency in young growth stages after resupply? XVIII. International Plant Nutrition Colloquium (IPNC), August 21st – 24th, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Tränkner, M.; Senbayram, M.; Jákli, B.; Halicki, S.; Dittert, K. & Zörb, C. (2017) Comparative Study on Proteome Changes in Response to Potassium Deficiency and Drought in Triticum aestivum Roots. Frontiers of Potassium Science Conference, January 25th – 27th, Rome, Italy.
Tränkner, M.; Tavakol, E.; Dittert, K. & Senbayram, M. (2015) Photoprotective reactions of Mg deficient barley plants. International Conference of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 17th – 18th, Göttingen, Germany.
Jákli, B.; Tränkner, M. & Senbayram, M. (2014) Effects of potassium deficiency on water use efficiency of Triticum aestivum. International Conference of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 10th – 12th, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Tavakol, E.; Tränkner, M.; Jákli, B.; Dittert, K. & Senbayram, M. (2014) Adequate K supply enhances tolerance to drought situations via optimized NPQ and antioxidant activity in spring wheat. International Conference of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 10th – 12th, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Tränkner, M.; Tavakol, E.; Dittert, K. & Senbayram, M. (2014) Adequate magnesium supply increases biomass water-use efficiency and mitigates effects of excess light energy in barley. International Conference of the German Society of Plant Nutrition (DGP), September 10th – 12th, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Senbayram, M.; Tränkner, M.; Dittert, K. & Brueck, H. (2013) Nitrogen supply enhances intrinsic but not biomass water use efficiency. XVII. International Plant Nutrition Colloquium (IPNC), August 19th – 22nd, Istanbul, Turkey.
Tränkner, M. (2017) Magnesium, potassium and nitrogen deficiency-induced responses of crops and their impact on water-use efficiency. 1st ed. Cuvillier Verlag, Göttingen. ISBN 978-3-7369-9536-9. eISBN 978-3-7369-8536-0.
