Effects of Ambiol and 2-Chlorethylphosphonic Acid on the Content of Phytohormones in Potato Leaves and Tubers

The effects of the antioxidant Ambiol and 2-chlorethylphosphonic acid (2-CEPA) on individual concentrations and concentration ratios of phytohormones, photosynthesis and photophosphorylation rates, sucrose and starch content in tubers, and plant productivity were studied in potato (Solanum tuberosum L). Ambiol increased the ratio of indoleacetic acid (IAA) to abscisic acid (ABA), IAA/ABA, and that of zeatin (Z) and zeatin riboside (ZR) to ABA, (Z + ZR)/ABA. These effects were underlain by an increase in the content of auxins and cytokinins and a decrease in ABA. Unlike Ambiol, 2-CEPA increased the level of ABA, the effect being the most pronounced in the tubers. Ambiol increased the rates of photosynthesis and noncyclic photophosphorylation in chloroplasts isolated from potato leaves. The relation of this phenomenon to auxin and cytokinin accumulation, as well as Ambiol- and 2-CEPA-induced changes in the hormonal balance of potato tubers, carbon metabolism, and plant productivity, is discussed.     

核素铯胁迫下接种摩西球囊霉对宿根高粱内源激素和光合的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了宿根高粱接种摩西球囊霉形成共生体后在核素铯污染胁迫下内源激素和光合生理的响应.结果表明： 铯胁迫促进了宿根高粱叶片脱落酸(ABA)的合成,降低了生长素(IAA)、赤霉素(GA)以及玉米素核苷(ZR)的积累,从而导致了ABA/IAA和ABA/GA明显升高,接种摩西球囊霉减少了铯胁迫下IAA、GA以及ZR的降幅以及ABA的增幅,维持了ABA/IAA、ABA/GA和ABA/（IAA+GA+ZR）的稳定性;铯胁迫显著降低了植物净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(g_s)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、光呼吸(P_r)以及暗呼吸(D_r)等光合指标和呼吸指标,造成植物光合效率降低,接种摩西球囊霉缓解了铯胁迫给植物光合效率造成的负效应.说明在利用植物修复核素污染土壤时可引入摩西球囊霉等丛枝菌根真菌,以提高植物光合效率及同化产物,增强植物耐性,提高修复效率.     

The Relationship between Polyamines and Hormones in the Regulation of Wheat Grain Filling

The grain weight of wheat is strongly influenced by filling. Polyamines (PA) are involved in regulating plant growth. However, the effects of PA on wheat grain filling and its mechanism of action are unclear. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between PAs and hormones in the regulation of wheat grain filling. Three PAs, spermidine (Spd), spermine (Spm), and putrescine (Put), were exogenously applied, and the grain filling characteristics and changes in endogenous PA and hormones, i.e., indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin (Z) + zeatin riboside (ZR), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ETH) and gibberellin 1+4 (GAs), were quantified during wheat grain filling. Exogenous applications of Spd and Spm significantly increased the grain filling rate and weight, but exogenous Put had no significant effects on these measures. Exogenous Spd and Spm significantly increased the endogenous Spd, Spm, Z+ZR, ABA, and IAA contents and significantly decreased ETH evolution in grains. The endogenous Spd, Spm and Z+ZR contents were positively and significantly correlated with the grain filling rate and weight of wheat, and the endogenous ETH evolution was negatively and significantly correlated with the wheat grain filling rate and weight. Based upon these results, we concluded that PAs were involved in the balance of hormones that regulated the grain filling of wheat.     

Dynamic Changes of Endogenous Phytohormones During the Development of Embryos Derived from Wheat Crossed with Zea mays and Tripsacum dactyloides

The embryos derived from intergeneric crosses between Triticum aestivum L. (2n = 6x= 42) and Zea mays L. (2n= 20), Tripsacum dactyloides L. (2n= 4x= 72), as results of the elimination of paternal chromosome and having no endosperm as normal, are difficult to develop completely in vivo. Hormonal analyses in such intergeneric hybridized ovaries have been carried out including indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin (Z) and zeatin riboside (ZR), and abscisic acid (ABA) during different developmental stages of embryo. The results indicated that IAA level in hybridized ovaries was much lower than that in self-pollinated ovaries. Moreover, the active changes of Z+ZR and ABA contents were also different between the above two types of ovary. Nevertheless, the ratio changes of IAA/(Z+ZR) and IAA/ABA were similar between the two types of ovary, the same was true in the ratio changs of IAA, Z+ZR, and ABA to the sum of these three types of endogenous hormones. But the three types of ratios in hybridized ovaries were varied far more greater than those in self-pollinated ones. It suggested the importance to maintain dynamic equilibrium of multiple hormones and sequential regulation during the embryo development. That the distantly hybridized embryos failed to mature successfully was probably associated with a deviation from the normal changes of endogenous hormones levels and balance system of multiple hormones in addition to the lack of endosperm nourishment.     

小麦与玉米及鸭茅状摩擦禾杂交后胚发育过程中内源激素的动态变化

小麦（Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｕｍ ａｅｓｔｉｖｕｍ Ｌ．）与玉米（Ｚｅａ ｍ ａｙｓＬ．）及鸭茅状摩擦禾（Ｔｒｉｐｓａｃｕｍ ｄａｃｔｙｌｏｉｄｅｓ Ｌ．）杂交后,由于胚乳组织不能正常形成,从而导致胚很难在母本小麦植株上发育至成熟。通过对杂交后的胚不同发育时期的子房内源ＩＡＡ、玉米素（Ｚ）及玉米素核苷（ＺＲ）和ＡＢＡ 的ＥＬＩＳＡ 分析,发现远缘杂交后的胚发育过程中子房内源ＩＡＡ 的浓度明显低于正常发育的子房;而且Ｚ＋ ＺＲ 和ＡＢＡ 的含量的动态变化也和正常自交发育的子房不同,然而ＩＡＡ／（Ｚ＋ ＺＲ）和ＩＡＡ／ＡＢＡ 的比率变化在远缘杂交与正常自交的子房之间有某些相似趋势。ＩＡＡ、Ｚ＋ ＺＲ和ＡＢＡ 与这３ 种激素之和的比率变化在上述两类子房中也有相似之处。可以推断,植物胚胎的正常发育需要多种激素的动态平衡及某一时期某一激素的主导性作用。远缘杂交后的胚之所以不能够顺利发育至成熟,除了缺乏胚乳组织的营养保护之外,或许也和其内源激素的水平及多激素平衡体系偏离常规动态变化有关联     

Hormonal changes during salinity-induced leaf senescence in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Leaf senescence is one of the most limiting factors to plant productivity under salinity. Both the accumulation of specific toxic ions (e.g. Na+) and changes in leaf hormone relations are involved in the regulation of this process. Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv Moneymaker) were cultivated for 3 weeks under high salinity (100 mM NaCl) and leaf senescence-related parameters were studied during leaf development in relation to Na+ and K+ contents and changes in abscisic acid (ABA), cytokinins, the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), and the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Na+ accumulated to a similar extent in both leaves 4 and 5 (numbering from the base of the plant) and more quickly during the third week, while concurrently K+ contents sharply decreased. However, photosystem II efficiency, measured as the F(v)/F(m) ratio, decreased from the second week of salinization in leaf 4 but only at the end of the third week in the younger leaf 5. In the prematurely senescent leaf 4, ABA content increased linearly while IAA strongly decreased with salinization time. Although zeatin (Z) levels were scarcely affected by salinity, zeatin-riboside (ZR) and the total cytokinin content (Z+ZR) progressively decreased by 50% from the imposition of the stress. ACC was the only hormonal compound that increased in leaf tissue coincident with the onset of oxidative damage and the decline in chlorophyll fluorescence, and prior to massive Na+ accumulation. Indeed, (Z+ZR) and ACC contents and their ratio (Z+ZR/ACC) were the hormonal parameters best correlated with the onset and progression of leaf senescence. The influence of different hormonal changes on salt-induced leaf senescence is discussed.     

Developmental Patterns of Phytohormone Content in the Cortex and Pith of Potato Tubers as Related to Their Growth and Starch Content

The contents of ABA, IAA, and cytokinins (zeatin + zeatin riboside) were determined in the cortex and pith of medium-sized (25 g) and large (120 g) tubers of potato (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Malakhit) at the end of the flowering phase (48 days after sprouting) and related to plant growth (cell division and enlargement) and starch biosynthesis and deposition. The patterns of phytohormone distribution were different in the cortex and pith. In the latter, with most cells at the enlargement phase, the IAA content increased, as well as the ratios IAA/ABA and IAA/cytokinins. In the cortex dominated by the dividing cells, the ABA content declined, and the ratio cytokinins/ABA exceeded that in the pith. The enhancement of starch synthesis and accumulation in the pith and the retardation of these processes in the cortex followed the changes in the ABA content providing indirect support to the previously made observation that the exogenous ABA promoted starch biosynthesis. The data obtained are discussed in the context of the hormonal control of carbohydrate metabolism and starch deposition in growing tubers.     

Ability of bacterium Bacillus subtilis to produce cytokinins and to influence the growth and endogenous hormone content of lettuce plants

Hormone production by micro-organisms selected as antagonists of pathogenic fungi and the effect of their introduction into soil on hormone content and growth of lettuce plants were studied. Hormones in bacterial cultural media and in plant extracts were immunopurified and assayed using specific antibodies to indolyl-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), and different cytokinins (zeatin riboside (ZR), dihydrozeatinriboside (DHZR) and isopentenyladenosine (iPA)). ZR was shown to be the main cytokinin present in bacterial cultural media as a complex with a high molecular weight component. Inoculation of lettuce plants with bacteria increased the cytokinin content of both shoots and roots. Accumulation of zeatin and its riboside was greatest in roots shortly 2days after inoculation, when their content was 10 times higher than in control. Changes in the content of other hormones (ABA and IAA) were observed at the end of experiments only. Accumulation of cytokinins in inoculated lettuce plants was associated with an increase in plant shoot and root weight of approximately 30% over 8days.     

Endogenous levels of free and conjugated forms of auxin, cytokinins and abscisic acid during seed development in Douglas fir

Endogenous levels of free and conjugated forms of three classes of planthormones were quantified at various stages of megagametophyte development inDouglas fir. Megagametophytes were excised weekly from 8–16 weeks pastpollination (WPP), a period encompassing the central cell to the earlymaturation stage of seed development. The hormones indole-3 acetic acid (IAA),indole-3-aspartate (IAAsp), zeatin (Z), zeatin riboside (ZR), isopentenyladenine(iP), isopentenyladenosine (iPA), abscisic acid (ABA) and abscisic acid glucoseester (ABA-GE) were extracted, purified, fractionated by high- performanceliquid chromatography (HPLC), and then quantified using an enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Z levels ranged from 0–25ng/g dry weight (DW) and were highest in megagametophytes at thecentral cell stage (8 WPP). During embryogenesis, Z levels peakedduring week 13. In contrast, the ZR conjugate was not detected over the periodstudied. The iP content of megagametophytes increased at 10 and 13WPP, while the iPA concentration increased at 13 WPP.Prior to fertilisation, IAA was highest in megagametophytes at 9WPP. During embryogenesis, the major IAA accumulations occurred at11, 13 and 15 WPP, the concentration ranging from 0–0.43g/g DW. IAAsp concentrations reached their highest level duringembryogenesis at 14 WPP. ABA content increased at 11 and 13WPP, with a concentration range of 0.1–13 g/gDW. In contrast, ABA-GE levels were relatively constant over the 9-weekperiod analyzed. The endogenous levels of plant hormones varied withmegagametophyte development and were associated with morphological changes.     

Endogenous levels of abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin and zeatin-riboside during the course of adventitious root formation in cuttings of Craigella and Craigella lateral suppressor tomatoes

Indole acetic acid (IAA). abscisic acid (ABA), and zeatin plus zeatin riboside (Z + ZR) were determined daily in cuttings of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Craigella (C) and the Craigella Lateral Suppressor (CLS) mutant during the first 5 days of the root-forming process. A solid-phase enzyme immunoassay using specific anti-hormone antibodies was used following a one-step HPLC purification procedure. The hormone measurements were made in cuttings divided into 4 parts. The main variations occurred in the terminal bud and in the basal part of the hypocotyl of the two tomato varieties, i.e. significant IAA and ABA increases during the first 2 days followed by a more or less fast return to the initial values at day 4 or 5. This is probably due to the ablation of the root system. Z + ZR levels dramatically decreased in the basal part of the Craigella hypocotyl 1 day after cutting. Contrary to CLS, C hypocotyls recovered the initial high levels when roots regenerated (day 5). This is probably linked to the greater ability of roots to produce cytokinins in C plants than in CLS ones. The first step of root formation (reactivation of the pericyclic cells and formation of root primordia) corresponded to a high IAA/Z + ZR ratio in the root-forming tissue, whereas the second step (elongation of young roots) was characterized by a low ratio with low levels of hormones.     

Effects of Chlorocholine Chloride on Phytohormones and Photosynthetic Characteristics in Potato (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.)

Effects of chlorocholine chloride (CCC) on phytohormones and photosynthetic characteristics of Zhongshu 3, a potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) variety widely cultivated in south China, were studied by foliar CCC application on 24 and 28 days after emergence, that is, at the tuber initiation stage. It was found that on 42 days after emergence, that is, at the tuber bulking stage, spraying CCC increased indolacetic-3-acid (IAA) and zeatin (Z) contents but decreased abscisic acid (ABA) content in leaves. The content ratios of IAA/Z, IAA/ABA, Z/ABA, and (IAA + Z)/ABA in leaves treated with CCC were higher than those of the control. CCC plays a prominent regulating role in the photosynthesis of Zhongshu 3. The net photosynthetic rate (P _n), stomatal conductance (G _s), intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i), and transpiration rate (T _r) of treated leaves were superior to those of controls at the tuber bulking stage. CCC markedly increased tuber yield and quality. The contents of sucrose and starch in tubers treated with CCC increased at the end of the vegetation period, whereas the contents of reducing sugars and solanine decreased. CCC at 2.0 g L⁻¹ was found to be the most effective concentration. Collectively, the results of this research identify phytohomonal metabolism and photosynthetic physiology of potato leaves as processes affected early after application of CCC resulting in significantly improved increases in tuber yield and quality.     

Hormone Levels and Apical Dominance in the Aquatic Fern Marsilea drummondii A. Br

Terminal buds and successively subjacent lateral buds of the water fern, Marsilea drummondii, were examined to determine the pattern of hormone distribution in relation to apical dominance. Quantitative levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), zeatin and zeatin riboside (Z and ZR), and isopentenyladenosine (iPA) were determined by a solid-phase immunoassay using polycional antihormone antibodies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used following a one-step HPLC purification procedure to obtain the free hormones. Active shoot apices contained the most IAA and Z-type cytokinins and inhibited buds the least. No significant differences in ABA levels were found leading to the conclusion that ABA did not play any role in apical dominance. The normal precedence of the most rapid outgrowth of the youngest inhibited bud as observed previously in decapitated plants was well correlated with its very high level of iPA observed in this study. The same phenomenon was observed in the median buds but with a weaker amplitude. The presence of this storage form could indicate that a bud at its entry into quiescence eventually looses the ability to hydroxylate iPA to Z-type cytokinins when it is fully inhibited. IAA and Z + ZR are concluded to be essential for lateral bud growth.     

干旱胁迫下喷施外源植物激素对甘薯生理特性和产量的影响

为探讨不同时期干旱胁迫下喷施外源植物激素对甘薯生理特性和产量的影响,明确喷施外源植物激素的最佳时期,在人工控水条件下研究了移栽后20(前期)、60(中期)和100 d(后期)干旱胁迫下喷施6-苄氨基嘌呤(6-BA)、α-萘乙酸(NAA)和脱落酸(ABA)对甘薯内源激素含量、光合荧光特性和产量的影响。结果表明: 与喷清水相比,喷施外源植物激素均能显著提高甘薯产量,以6-BA增幅最大,其次是NAA和ABA;前期喷施效果好于中期和后期。不同时期干旱胁迫下,喷施外源植物激素可显著提高甘薯叶片的光合和叶绿素荧光参数,缓解因干旱引起的玉米素核糖核苷(ZR)和生长素(IAA)含量下降的现象。逐步回归分析表明,内源激素和光合特性是影响甘薯产量的关键指标。通径分析表明,前期干旱胁迫下喷施外源植物激素主要通过影响净光合速率(P_n)、IAA、ZR、最大光化学效率和光化学性能指数来影响甘薯产量。生长前期喷施6-BA可调控甘薯内源激素含量,提高光合特性,有效缓解干旱造成的产量损失。     

南方红豆杉种子综合处理过程中内源激素的动态变化

为揭示南方红豆杉种子内源激素与休眠的关系,采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定了经过层积处理的种皮和胚乳的脱落酸(ABA)、赤霉素(GA3 )、吲哚乙酸(IAA)、玉米素核苷(ZR)4种内源激素含量的变化情况.结果表明:种子胚乳中内源ABA的含量随着层积时间的延长而逐渐下降,GA含量增加,IAA和ZR的含量先增加后降低...     

Effect of applied and internal hormones on vitrification and apical necrosis of different plants cultured in vitro

Development of vitrification and apical necrosis was followed in Camellia sinensis, Gerbera jamesonii, Malus domestica and hybrid Populus tremula x P. alba shoots cultured in vitro on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium with different concentrations of growth regulators. High humidity in the culture vessels and excess of BA in the medium were found to be the major factors influencing vitrification. Lack of exogenous cytokinin in the medium during successive subcultures induced apical necrosis in poor-rooting species (Malus domestica, Camellia sinensis). The level of internal phytohormones (ABA, IAA, IPA, 2iP, Z, ZR) was determined in the apple shoots by means of ELISA. The content of internal cytokinins in the vitrified apple shoots was several times greater than in normal ones, which supports the hypothesis that excess of cytokinins, inducing rapid divisions of cells in meristems in the atmosphere with high humidity, is responsible for vitrification. Apical necrosis of the plantlets that appeared after cultivation on cytokinin-free medium is the result of deficiency in endogenous hormones in apple shoots and this being confirmed by analysis of endogenous hormones in apple shoots.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - BHT butylated hydroxy-toluene - ABA abscisic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - ELISA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay - IPA isopentenyladenosine - 2iP isopentenyladenine - NAA naphthyl-3-acetic acid - TBS trishydroxymethylaminomethane buffered saline - TLC thin layer chromatography - Z zeatin - ZR zeatin riboside     

Changes in phytohormone contents in chickpea seeds germinating under lead or zinc stress

The present work describes the changes that take place in phytohormone contents in germinating chickpea (Cicer arietinum cv. Aziziye-94) seeds in response to heavy metal stress. For this aim, endogenous abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), zeatin (Z) and zeatin riboside (ZR) contents were followed for 24, 48 and 72 h in chickpea seeds germinating at the concentrations of 0.1, 1.0 and 5.0 mM Pb or 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mM Zn. The results showed that Pb and Zn significantly delayed and impeded the germination of chickpea seeds. The negative effect of Pb on germination was higher than that of Zn. Further, Pb increased ABA and Z contents while decreased GA₃ content in the germinating seeds. The high concentrations of Zn (1.0 and 10 mM) decreased contents of Z, ZR and GA₃ while 0.1 mM Zn increased the content of the same hormones. The ABA content was enhanced by Zn in all concentrations used.     

γ-Irradiation of Barley Seeds and Its Effect on the Phytohormonal Status of Seedlings

We investigated the effect of γ-irradiation (4–50 Gy) of barley seeds (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Nur) on the content of endogenous phytohormones–stimulators of plant growth and development: indol-3-acetic acid (IAA), indolyl-3-butyric acid (IBA), zeatin and abscisic acid (ABA). The ratio (IAA + IBA + zeatin)/ABA from the third to the seventh day of germination has been measured. It was shown that the changes in the content of phytohormones as a function of the radiation dose were nonlinear. In the dose range of 4–20 Gy, phytohormones balance was changed due to increased content of growth stimulators and decreased ABA content. Using a dose of 50 Gy led primarily to a decrease in the content of growth stimulators and an increase in ABA content, and the ratio (IAA + IBA + zeatin)/ABA shifted toward ABA content.     

油茶花芽分化形态结构及内源激素变化

以普通油茶(Camellia oleifera) 4个无性系为材料,结合油茶成花的动态观察和花芽分化过程的石蜡切片形态观察,采用酶联免疫吸附分析法测定花芽中玉米素核苷(ZR)、脱落酸(ABA)、生长素(IAA)、赤霉素(GA) 4种内源激素含量,探讨油茶花芽分化与内源激素的关系。油茶花芽分化过程可分为6个时期：前分化期(10 d)、萼片形成期(20 d)、花瓣形成期(30 d)、雌雄蕊形成期(20 d)、子房与花药形成期(10 d)和雌雄蕊成熟期(20 d),历时3～4个月。油茶不同无性系的花芽分化时间略有不同。油茶花芽中ZR含量相对较低(5.102～16.412 ng·g–1 FW),ABA含量相对较高(76.815～137.648 ng·g–1 FW)。其中,粤华5号和湘林8号的ZR、ABA含量变化趋势一致,岑软3号和岑软2号含量变化趋势一致。油茶花芽中IAA含量相对较高,为49.072～135.622 ng·g–1 FW,随着花芽分化进程,IAA含量均呈先升后降再升的变化趋势。GA含量相对较低,为5.616～13.720 ng·g–1 FW,随时间变化,呈现出不断降低的趋势。其中,不同无性系的IAA、GA含量变化趋势一致,而ZR、ABA含量变化趋势有所差异。ZR有利于花器官形成;高浓度IAA促进油茶花芽分化,低浓度IAA有利于开花;花芽中IAA与ABA存在明显的颉颃作用;GA抑制花芽分化。     

UV-B辐射增强和O3浓度升高对大豆叶片内源激素和抗氧化能力的影响

揭示大豆叶片内源激素对UV-B和臭氧胁迫的代谢机制和响应方式,为从分子水平研究植物内源激素对UV-B(Ultraviolet-B)和O3(Ozone)胁迫的适应机制奠定基础。以大豆(Glycine max.)为试验材料,利用开顶式气室研究UV-B(0.32W/m2)和O3((110±10)nmol/mol)复合胁迫对大豆叶片内源激素含量及活性氧代谢系统的影响。结果表明:在大豆整个生育期内,与对照相比,UV-B胁迫使大豆叶片ABA(Abscisic acid)含量、ZR(Zeatin riboside)含量和IAA(Indoleacetic acid)含量显著降低,IAA/ABA、ZR/ABA、(IAA+ZR)/ABA比值升高,O·-2(Superoxide anion free radical,O·-2)产生速率和MDA(Malonaldehyde)含量升高,SOD(Superoxide dismutase)、CAT(Catalase)和POD(Peroxidase)活性显著降低;高浓度O3胁迫下,大豆叶片ABA和IAA含量显著下降、ZR含量显著增加,IAA/ABA、ZR/ABA、(IAA+ZR)/ABA值显著升高,O·-2产生速率和MDA含量增加,SOD、CAT和POD活性显著降低;UV-B和O3复合胁迫下,大豆叶片ABA含量、ZR含量和IAA含量降低,ZR/ABA、(IAA+ZR)/ABA值下降,而IAA/ABA值升高,O·-2产生速率和MDA含量显著增加,SOD、CAT和POD活性显著降低。UV-B辐射增强和O3浓度升高单一及复合作用使大豆叶片内源激素间平衡改变,进而影响大豆叶片的代谢水平。持续胁迫下,植株抗氧化能力下降,对大豆表现为伤害效应。UV-B和O3复合胁迫比单独胁迫时的影响有所加深,但是小于两者单独作用时影响的简单累加。     

Involvement of abscisic acid and cytokinins in the senescence and remobilization of carbon reserves in wheat subjected to water stress during grain filling

This study investigated the possibility that abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinins may mediate the effect of water deficit that enhances plant senescence and remobilization of pre‐stored carbon reserves. Two high lodging‐resistant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars were field grown and treated with either a normal or high amount of nitrogen at heading. Well‐watered (WW) and water‐stressed (WS) treatments were imposed from 9 d post‐anthesis until maturity. Chlorophyll (Chl) and photosynthetic rate (Pr) of the flag leaves declined faster in WS plants than in WW plants, indicating that the water deficit enhanced senescence. Water stress facilitated the reduction of non‐structural carbohydrate in the stems and promoted the re‐allocation of prefixed ¹⁴C from the stems to grains, shortened the grain filling period and increased the grain filling rate. Water stress substantially increased ABA but reduced zeatin (Z) + zeatin riboside (ZR) concentrations in the stems and leaves. ABA correlated significantly and negatively, whereas Z + ZR correlated positively, with Pr and Chl of the flag leaves. ABA but not Z + ZR, was positively and significantly correlated with remobilization of pre‐stored carbon and grain filling rate. Exogenous ABA reduced Chl in the flag leaves, enhanced the remobilization, and increased grain filling rate. Spraying with kinetin had the opposite effect. The results suggest that both ABA and cytokinins are involved in controlling plant senescence, and an enhanced carbon remobilization and accelerated grain filling rate are attributed to an elevated ABA level in wheat plants when subjected to water stress.