叶施NO对NaCl胁迫下红砂幼苗叶片和根系中氮代谢酶及营养物质的影响

以当年生红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)幼苗为材料,采用盆栽实验,考察叶面喷施不同浓度(0、0.01、0.10、0.25、0.50、1.00 mmol·L^-1)NO供体硝普钠 (SNP) 对NaCl(300 mmol·L^-1)胁迫下红砂根、叶中可溶性蛋白、游离氨基酸和硝态氮含量,以及谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸合酶(GOGAT)、硝酸还原酶(NR)活性的影响,并采用主成分分析和隶属函数法筛选NO对NaCl胁迫缓解效应的氮代谢指标和最佳NO浓度,以探讨外源NO对NaCl 胁迫下红砂缓解效应的氮代谢响应机制。结果表明：(1)在300 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫处理下,红砂幼苗根、叶中可溶性蛋白、硝态氮含量以及GS、GOGAT、NR活性均比对照显著下降。(2)外源NO能显著提高盐胁迫下红砂叶、根中GS、GOGAT、NR活性和硝态氮含量,增加根中可溶性蛋白和游离氨基酸含量。(3)NR和GOGAT活性可用于评价NO对NaCl胁迫下红砂幼苗的缓解作用,外源NO(SNP)对红砂幼苗在NaCl胁迫下的缓解效果强弱表现为0.25 mmol·L^-1> 0.50 mmol·L^-1> 0.10 mmol·L^-1> 1.00 mmol·L^-1> 0.01 mmol·L^-1。研究发现,300 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫显著抑制了红砂幼苗氮代谢,外源NO(SNP)有助于提高盐胁迫下红砂NR活性,加快硝态氮转化为铵态氮,促进红砂叶片和根中GS/GOGAT对转化物的同化,从而增强红砂幼苗的耐盐性,并以0.25 mmol·L^-1SNP处理时缓解作用最佳;NR和GOGAT活性可作为NO缓解盐胁迫的评价指标。     

外源NO对盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗根生长抑制和氧化损伤的缓解效应

研究了外源一氧化氮(nitric oxide, NO)对盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗根生长和氧化损伤的影响。结果表明,5~100 μmol·L^-1的NO供体硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside, SNP)处理显著减轻100mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根生长的抑制效应,其中50 μmol·L^-1的SNP效果最明显,150 μmol·L^-1以上的SNP处理则抑制根的生长。50 μmol·L^-1 SNP处理提高了100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下黑麦草幼苗根组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)及液泡膜上H⁺-ATP酶(H⁺-ATPase)和H⁺焦磷酸酶(H⁺-PPase)的活性,使谷胱甘肽(GSH)、抗坏血酸(ASA)和脯氨酸含量及K⁺/Na⁺、(Spd+Spm)/Put比值和根干物质积累量增加,超氧阴离子(O^-₂)、H₂O₂和丙二醛(MDA)含量降低,而1mmol·L^-1NO清除剂PTIO和1 μmol·L^-1 NaNO₂处理(对照)的效果则不明显。由此推断,NO通过提高根组织的抗氧化和渗透调节能力,促进根系对K⁺的选择性吸收及Put向Spd和Spm的转化,降低Na⁺的吸收并加强在液泡中的区隔化缓解盐胁迫对黑麦草幼苗根生长的抑制和膜脂过氧化损伤。     

镉胁迫对矮牵牛种子萌发、幼苗生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用营养液培养的方法研究了不同浓度镉Cd（0、1、2和4 mmol·L^-1）处理对矮牵牛（Petunia hybrida）种子萌发、幼苗生长及生理特性的影响。结果发现：与对照相比,较低浓度（1 mmol·L^-1）Cd处理下矮牵牛种子萌发和幼苗生长均显著被抑制,当Cd浓度增至4 mmol·L^-1时完全抑制了矮牵牛种子的萌发。Cd胁迫在低浓度时激活矮牵牛幼苗叶片过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性,而高浓度产生抑制效应;抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性与对照相比均显著升高,丙二醛（MDA）含量无显著变化。不同浓度的乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)的加入使4 mmol·L^-1 Cd胁迫下矮牵牛幼苗叶片POD和APX活性增加,但不影响SOD和CAT活性;此外,6 mmol·L^-1 EDTA使Cd胁迫下矮牵牛幼苗叶片中MDA含量增加。结果表明,Cd胁迫抑制矮牵牛种子萌发和幼苗生长,却使幼苗叶片POD、CAT和APX活性增加,EDTA的加入能够进一步提高Cd胁迫幼苗POD和APX活性。因此,矮牵牛幼苗在Cd胁迫下具有较强的抗氧化损伤的能力。     

外源NO对盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗活性氧代谢、多胺含量和光合作用的影响

采用溶液培养法研究了外源一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)供体硝普钠(sodium nitroprusside,SNP)对100 mmol·L^-1 NaCl胁迫下黑麦草幼苗生长、活性氧代谢、多胺含量和光合作用的影响。结果表明,50 μmol·L^-1 SNP显著提高盐胁迫下黑麦草幼苗叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性及谷胱甘肽(GSH)、精胺(Spm)、亚精胺(Spd)含量和(Spm+Spd)/Put比值,降低了腐胺(Put)、超氧阴离子(O^—·₂)、H₂O₂和丙二醛(MDA)含量,使幼苗叶片叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量、净光合速率(P_n)和气孔导度(G_s)升高,胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)下降,相对生长量增加。叶绿素荧光动力学资料显示,SNP处理降低盐胁迫下黑麦草叶片的初始荧光(F₀),表明它对光合膜系统具有保护效应。SNP处理不仅提高了盐胁迫下叶片的最大荧光(F_m)、PSⅡ潜在光化学效率(F_v/F₀)和PSⅡ最大光化学效率(F_v/F_m),而且提高了PSⅡ实际光化学效率(Φ_PSⅡ)、光化学荧光猝灭系数(q_P)、表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)和光化学速率(PCR),降低了非光化学荧光猝灭系数(NPQ)和天线热耗散(D),而1 mmol·L^-1 NO清除剂PTIO和0.5 μmol·L^-1 NaNO₂处理(对照)则无此效应。由此表明,外源NO可能通过提高植株的抗氧化能力及光能的捕获与转换而增强盐胁迫下黑麦草叶片的光合能力,从而缓解盐胁迫对幼苗生长的抑制作用。     

硝酸镧对碱胁迫下黑麦草幼苗生长和光合生理的影响

在150 mmol·L^-1 NaHCO₃胁迫下,研究了不同浓度硝酸镧对黑麦草幼苗生长的影响及其对叶片光合生理响应的调节作用。结果表明,叶面喷施低浓度硝酸镧(0.05 mmol·L^-1)预处理显著减小了碱胁迫下黑麦草幼苗生物量、叶片叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量、叶绿体希尔反应、光合电子传递、光合磷酸化、Mg²⁺ ATP酶、RuBP羧化酶活性和光合效率的下降幅度,却对光呼吸调节酶乙醇酸氧化酶活性无明显影响。而高浓度硝酸镧(0.5 mmol·L^-1)预处理不仅对碱胁迫没有缓解作用,反而加重了碱胁迫伤害。因此,适宜浓度硝酸镧可以通过改善光合功能从而缓解碱胁迫对黑麦草幼苗生长的抑制作用。     

NaCl胁迫对四种禾本科牧草种子萌发的影响

研究了4种多年生根茎型耐旱植物——羊草、高冰草、苇状羊茅和俄罗斯新麦草种子的萌发和根芽生长对不同浓度（0、50、100、150、200、300、400和500 mmol·L^-1 ）NaCl胁迫的响应。结果表明,4种牧草种子的发芽率随着盐浓度的增加呈下降趋势。其中,羊草种子耐盐性最差,300 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理的种子发芽率仅为1.5%,浓度超过300 mmol·L^-1时,没有种子萌发;高冰草、苇状羊茅和俄罗斯新麦草耐盐性较强,在500 mmol·L^-1 NaCl时发芽率分别为17.3%、20.0%和18.1%。4种牧草的根长和芽长均与NaCl浓度呈极显著的负相关,但表现不同：随着NaCl浓度的增加,俄罗斯新麦草的根长下降速率最快,高冰草最慢;羊草芽长下降速率最快,高冰草最慢;羊草的根/冠比值呈上升趋势,而其他3种牧草则呈下降趋势。说明NaCl胁迫对羊草抑制表现为胚根<胚芽,而后三者则为胚根>胚芽。从种子发芽率和胚生长状况看,在种子萌发期内,羊草种子萌发和苗期的耐盐能力最差,而高冰草、苇状羊茅和俄罗斯新麦草的种子萌发和苗期生长均有较强的耐盐能力。     

外源一氧化氮对铅胁迫下小麦种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

利用室内水培实验,研究了外源一氧化氮（NO）供体硝普钠（SNP）对Pb²⁺处理下小麦（Triticum aestivum L.）种子萌发、幼苗生长及相关生理指标变化的影响。结果表明,Pb²⁺处理使小麦种子发芽势、发芽率、幼苗根长和茎长均显著降低,诱导叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量减少及叶绿素荧光参数F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o的比值减小,25 μmol·L^-1 SNP明显缓解Pb²⁺胁迫对种子萌发及幼苗生长的抑制作用,提高Pb²⁺胁迫下叶绿素a、叶绿素b含量及F_v/F_m和F_v/F_o的比值,而100 μmol·L^-1SNP无明显缓解作用。此外,25和100 μmol·L^-1SNP诱导Pb²⁺胁迫下小麦幼苗叶片过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性增强和可溶性蛋白含量增多,但100 μmol·L^-1SNP处理降低了过氧化物酶（POD）活性。结果说明,外源NO促进Pb²⁺胁迫下小麦种子萌发及幼苗生长,提高叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量,诱导CAT活性升高,从而增强小麦对Pb²⁺胁迫的适应性。     

NaCl处理下黄花补血草幼苗生理特性的变化

以荒漠盐生植物黄花补血草(Limonium aureum(Linn.) Hill)为材料,研究不同浓度NaCl处理下渗透调节物含量、活性氧产生和抗氧化酶活性的变化。结果显示：NaCl处理诱导黄花补血草幼苗脯氨酸、可溶性糖和H2O2含量升高及超氧阴离子（O₂^-·）产生速率增大,可溶性蛋白含量在25和50 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理时低于对照,而100和150 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理时显著增加;不同浓度NaCl处理下,黄花补血草超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性显著升高,过氧化物酶活性与对照比呈现先增加后减小的变化,而过氧化氢酶活性表现为先降低后升高的变化趋势,但均低于对照。结果表明,黄花补血草在盐胁迫下通过积累渗透调节物和提高SOD、APX活性,使其具有较强的渗透调节能力和抗氧化能力,从而增强对盐环境的适应性。     

外源一氧化氮对NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长、活性氧代谢和光合特性的影响

采用营养液水培的方法,研究了外源一氧化氮（Nitric oxide, NO）对50mmol•L^-1NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长、活性氧代谢和光合特性的影响。结果表明：10~400μmol•L^-1 NO供体硝普钠（Sodium nitroprusside, SNP）能显著缓解NaCl胁迫对黄瓜植株造成的伤害,100μmol•L^-1 SNP缓解效果最好,可提高幼苗的生长量,增强幼苗叶片超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶（APX）活性,提高了叶片叶绿素和脯氨酸（Pro）含量、净光合速率（Pn）、蒸腾速率（Tr）及气孔导度（Gs）;降低了叶片丙二醛（MDA）和过氧化氢（H₂O₂）的含量、超氧阴离子（O^•-₂）的产生速率、质膜透性和胞间二氧化碳浓度（Ci）。     

吸收与分配规律的初步研究

选择苗期耐盐性较强的水稻(Oryza sativa)品种（株系）‘AB52’、‘02402’和‘02435’及敏感品种‘日本晴’, 在网室周转箱内,设置5 000和8 000 mg&#8226;L^－1 NaCl两种盐处理,以清水为对照, 研究盐胁迫下苗期水稻植株不同部位Na⁺和K⁺的吸收和分配与品种耐盐性的关系。结果表明,盐胁迫下,株高、绿叶干重和绿叶面积下降,绿叶中的水分含量降低,但茎鞘中的水分含量有所上升。5 000 mg&#8226;L^－1 NaCl胁迫处理10 d,耐盐品种所受的生长影响和叶片伤害程度低于敏感品种,但8 000 mg&#8226;L^－1 NaCl胁迫处理下品种间差异变小。盐胁迫下,水稻植株吸收 Na⁺和置换出K⁺,但不同器官部位中Na⁺和K⁺的区域化分布特征明显,各部位的Na⁺含量由低到高依次为绿叶、根、茎鞘和枯叶。下部老叶能优先积累较多Na⁺而枯黄;绿叶吸收Na⁺ 相对较少,维持较低的Na⁺水平,同时保持较高且稳定的K⁺含量;植株茎鞘通过选择性吸收大量Na⁺ 和置换出一部分K⁺到叶片中,保持绿叶较稳定的K⁺含量和相对较低的Na⁺含量,维持较高的K⁺ /Na⁺比,从而使植株少受盐害。敏感品种‘日本晴’在盐胁迫下绿叶中的Na⁺含量相对较高,且 5 000 mg●L^－1 NaCl胁迫下绿叶Na⁺含量已接近高值,与在8 000 mg●L^－1 NaCl胁迫下差异不大, 而耐盐品种绿叶吸收较少的Na⁺。另一方面,耐盐品种茎鞘的含K⁺相对较高,在盐胁迫下能吸收容纳较多的Na⁺,而绿叶中K⁺/Na⁺比较高。可以认为,绿叶的K⁺/Na⁺比可作为一个衡量耐盐性的相对指标。     

Auxin and Ethylene-stimulated Adventitious Rooting in Relation to Tissue 9

We have previously shown that both endogenous auxin and ethylenepromote adventitious root formation in the hypocotyls of derootedsunflower (Helianthus annuus) seedlings. Experiments here showedthat promotive effects on rooting of the ethylene precursor,1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) and the ethylene-releasingcompound, ethephon (2-chloro-ethylphosphonic acid), dependedon the existence of cotyledons and apical bud (major sourcesof auxin) or the presence of exogenously applied indole-3-aceticacid (IAA). Ethephon, ACC, aminoethoxyvinylglycine (an inhibitorof ethylene biosynthesis), and silver thiosulphate (STS, aninhibitor of ethylene action), applied for a length of timethat significantly influenced adventitious rooting, showed noinhibitory effect on the basipetal transport of [³H]IAA. Theseregulators also had no effect on the metabolism of [³H]IAA andendogenous IAA levels measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.ACC enhanced the rooting response of hypocotyls to exogenousIAA and decreased the inhibition of rooting by IAA transportinhibitor, N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA). STS reduced therooting response of hypocotyls to exogenous IAA and increasedthe inhibition of rooting by NPA. Exogenous auxins promotedethylene production in the rooting zone of the hypocotyls. Decapitationof the cuttings or application of NPA to the hypocotyl belowthe cotyledons did not alter ethylene production in the rootingzone, but greatly reduced the number of root primordia. We concludethat auxin is a primary controller of adventitious root formationin sunflower hypocotyls, while the effect of ethylene is mediatedby auxin. Key words: Auxin, ethylene, adventitious rooting, sunflower     

Physiological and Biochemical Mechanisms of Exogenous Calcium Chloride on Alleviating Salt Stress in Two Tartary Buckwheat (<i>Fagopyrum tataricum</i>) Varieties Differing in Salinity Tolerance

Salt stress is one of the most serious abiotic stresses limiting plant growth and development. Calcium as an essential nutrient element and important signaling molecule plays an important role in ameliorating the adverse effect of salinity on plants. This study aimed to investigate the impact of exogenous calcium on improving salt tolerance in Tartary buckwheat cultivars, cv. Xinong9920 (salt-tolerant) and cv. Xinong9909 (salt-sensitive). Four-week-old Tartary buckwheat seedlings under 100 mM NaCl stress were treated with and without exogenous calcium chloride (CaCl₂), Ca²⁺ chelator ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and Ca²⁺-channel blocker lanthanum chloride (LaCl₃) for 10 days. Then, some important physiological and biochemical indexes were determined. The results showed that salt stress significantly reduced seedling growth, decreased photosynthetic pigments, inhibited antioxidants and antioxidant enzyme activities. However, it increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the two Tartary buckwheat cultivars. Exogenous 10 mM CaCl₂ application on salt-stressed Tartary buckwheat seedlings obviously mitigated the negative effects of NaCl stress and partially restored seedlings growth. Ca²⁺-treated salt-stressed seedlings diplayed a suppressed accumulation of ROS, increased the contents of total chlorophyll, soluble protein, proline and antioxidants, and elevated the activities of antioxidant enzymes compared with salt stress alone. On the contrary, the addition of 0.5 mM LaCl₃ and 5 mM EGTA on salt-stressed Tartary buckwheat seedlings exhibited the opposite effects to those with CaCl₂ treatment. These results indicate that exogenous Ca²⁺ can enhance salt stress tolerance and Ca²⁺ supplementation may be an effective practice to cultivate Tartary buckwheat in saline soils.     

Endogenous Auxin is Required but Supraoptimal for Rapid Growth of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Seminal Roots, and Auxin Inhibition of Rice Seminal Root Growth is Not Caused by Ethylene

The dual effects of auxin and ethylene on rice seminal root growth were investigated in this study. Low concentrations of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) had no effect on rice seminal root growth, whereas higher concentrations (≥0.003 μM) were inhibitory. In contrast, low concentrations of the auxin action inhibitor p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (PCIB), ranging from 0.5 to 50 μM, promoted rice seminal root growth, whereas high concentrations of PCIB (≥500 μM) and the polar auxin transport inhibitor 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) inhibited rice seminal root growth. These results suggest that endogenous auxin is required but supraoptimal for rapid growth of rice seminal roots. In addition, although rice seminal root growth was inhibited by the exogenous ethylene-releasing compound ethephon or the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) as well as exogenous IAA, the 50% inhibition of growth (I₅₀) caused by ethephon or ACC was weakened by certain concentrations of the ethylene action inhibitor Ag⁺ (0.016-0.4 μM). However, the I₅₀ caused by exogenous IAA was strengthened by Ag⁺ or the ethylene biosynthetic inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and weakened by certain concentrations of PCIB (0.5-50 μM). Together, the inhibitory mechanisms of auxin and ethylene on rice seminal root growth should be different, and auxin inhibition of rice seminal root growth should not be caused by ethylene. Furthermore, our results indicated that a certain threshold level of ethylene was required to maintain rice seminal root growth, and that ethylene within the threshold may antagonize auxin inhibition of rice seminal root growth.     

Isolation of ACC deaminase producing PGPR from rice rhizosphere and evaluating their plant growth promoting activity under salt stress

Aims

Bacteria possessing ACC deaminase activity reduce the level of stress ethylene conferring resistance and stimulating growth of plants under various biotic and abiotic stresses. The present study aims at isolating efficient ACC deaminase producing PGPR strains from the rhizosphere of rice plants grown in coastal saline soils and quantifying the effect of potent PGPR isolates on rice seed germination and seedling growth under salinity stress and ethylene production from rice seedlings inoculated with ACC deaminase containing PGPR.

Methods

Soils from root region of rice growing in coastal soils of varying salinity were used for isolating ACC deaminase producing bacteria and three bacterial isolates were identified following polyphasic taxonomy. Seed germination, root growth and stress ethylene production in rice seedlings following inoculation with selected PGPR under salt stress were quantified.

Results

Inoculation with selected PGPR isolates had considerable positive impacts on different growth parameters of rice including germination percentage, shoot and root growth and chlorophyll content as compared to uninoculated control. Inoculation with the ACC deaminase producing strains reduced ethylene production under salinity stress.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of rhizobacteria containing ACC deaminase for enhancing salt tolerance and consequently improving the growth of rice plants under salt-stress conditions.     

Regulation of Ethylene Biosynthesis Under Salt Stress in Red Pepper (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis> L.) by 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid (ACC) Deaminase-producing Halotolerant Bacteria

The present study was carried out to understand the mechanism of salt stress amelioration in red pepper plants by inoculation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase-producing halotolerant bacteria. In general, ethylene production, ACC concentration, ACC synthase (ACS), and ACC oxidase (ACO) enzyme activities increased with increasing levels of salt stress. Treatment with halotolerant bacteria reduced ethylene production by 47–64%, ACC concentration by 47–55% and ACO activity by 18–19% in salt-stressed (150 mmol NaCl) red pepper seedlings compared to uninoculated controls. ACS activity was lower in red pepper seedlings treated with Bacillus aryabhattai RS341 but higher in seedlings treated with Brevibacterium epidermidis RS15 (44%) and Micrococcus yunnanensis RS222 (23%) under salt-stressed conditions as compared to uninoculated controls. A significant increase was recorded in red pepper plant growth under salt stress when treated with ACC deaminase-producing halotolerant bacteria as compared to uninoculated controls. The results of this study collectively suggest that salt stress enhanced ethylene production by increasing enzyme activities of the ethylene biosynthetic pathway. Inoculation with ACC deaminase-producing halotolerant bacteria plays an important role in ethylene metabolism, particularly by reducing the ACC concentration, although a direct effect on reducing ACO activity was also observed. It is suggested that growth promotion in inoculated red pepper plants under inhibitory levels of salt stress is due to ACC deaminase activity present in the halotolerant bacteria.     

Influence of ACC and Ethephon on cell growth in etiolated lupin hypocotyls. dependence on cell growth state

The possible implication of ethylene on the growth regulation of etiolated lupin hypocotyls was investigated. Excised hypocotyl sections from actively growing seedlings produced ethylene at a rate of 3 nmol h^-1 g^-1 min^-1. The rate of ethylene production was increased about 7 times when sections were treated with 10 mM 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). Measurement of endogenous ACC showed that 95 % of total ACC (64.2 nmol g^-1 min^-1) corresponded to conjugated ACC. Treatments to intact seedlings with the ethylene precursor ACC, and the ethylene generating compound, 2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid (ethephon) during the cell elongation phase of the hypocotyl (from 7 to 21 dage), modified the cell growth of the organ. ACC (1 or 5 mM) or low concentrations of ethephon (0.66 mM) produced a transient decrease in the growth rate without modifying the final length of the hypocotyls. Higher concentrations of ethephon reduced the final length; the younger the seedlings were, the greater the reduction. Simultaneously to inhibition of cell elongation, ethephon produced stimulation of the radial expansion of cells in pith and cortex. The growth inhibition period, which lasted for 2 days after the treatments, was followed by another period in which the growth rate of treated plants surpassed that of the control. In both cases differences were observed along the hypocotyls due to the different growth status of the cells. It is suggested that the sensitivity to ethylene and the metabolism of ethylene depend on the growth status of the cells.     

Germination of salt-stressed seeds as related to the ethylene biosynthesis ability in three Stylosanthes species

Stylosanthes, a genus of tropical forage legume, is known to exhibit good persistence in saline soils, yet mechanisms for regulation of seed germination under salt stress are poorly understood. This study was carried out to evaluate the mode of action of salt stress on seed germination of Stylosanthes. 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) increased ethylene biosynthesis and germination of NaCl-inhibited seeds in a dose-dependent manner. Contents of ACC and germination of Stylosanthes humilis seeds increased following transfer from NaCl solution to deionised water, but not after transfer to l-α-(2-aminoethoxyvinyl)-glycine (AVG) solution, an inhibitor of ethylene biosynthesis. Ethylene biosynthesis was much larger in NaCl-treated seeds of Stylosanthes guianensis than in seeds of S. humilis and Stylosanthes capitata, a fact which was reflected in higher germination rates. S. guianensis seedlings also displayed higher growth and survival rates than S. humilis and S. capitata under salt stress. Moreover, smaller ACC levels, as well as reduced ethylene biosynthesis of S. capitata seeds were accompanied by lower germination under salt stress. In addition, S. capitata seedlings treated with NaCl solutions exhibited relatively lower growth and survival rates in comparison with S. humilis and S. guianensis. Thus, different abilities to synthesize ethylene by S. guianensis, S. humilis and S. capitata seeds explain the differences in tolerance to salt stress of the three species.     

Methylglyoxal as a novel signal molecule induces the salt tolerance of wheat by regulating the glyoxalase system,the antioxidant system,and osmolytes

Reactive carbonyl species methylglyoxal (MG) has always been regarded as a cytotoxic metabolite, but now is emerging to function as signal molecule in plants. However, whether MG can induce salt tolerance is elusive. In this study, treatment of wheat seeds with NaCl reduced seed germination, plant height, root length, fresh weight, and dry weight, indicating the inhibitive effects of NaCl on seed germination and seedling growth. The inhibitive effects of NaCl were alleviated by applying exogenous MG, but aggravated by the MG scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), suggesting that MG could induce the salt tolerance of wheat. In addition, MG increased glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II activities and decreased endogenous MG content in wheat seedlings under NaCl stress, whereas coapplication of NAC weakened glyoxalase activity and enhanced the endogenous MG level. Also, MG activated superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activities; increased glutathione and ascorbic acid levels; and decreased superoxide radical production and H₂O₂ and malondialdehyde contents under NaCl stress, while NAC reversed these physiological parameters. Furthermore, MG also induced the accumulation of proline, glycine betaine, and soluble sugar under NaCl stress, whereas this accumulation was weakened by NAC. This work reported for the first time that MG could induce the salt tolerance of wheat, and the acquisition of this salt tolerance was involved in the activation of the glyoxalase system and antioxidant system, as well as the accumulation of osmolytes.     

Ameliorative effect of brassinosteroid and ethylene on germination of cucumber seeds in the presence of sodium chloride

Brassinosteroids are a class of plant polyhydroxysteroids with a diverse of functions in plant growth and development, while ethylene is a gaseous hormone involved in regulation of numerous physiological processes. To evaluate the roles of BR and ethylene in seed germination under conditions of salt stress, effects of 24-Epibrassinolide (EBR) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) on seed germination of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) seeds in the presence of 250 mM NaCl were investigated. Seed germination was significantly inhibited by the presence of NaCl in the incubation medium, and the inhibitory effect was significantly alleviated by addition of EBR and ACC to the incubation medium containing NaCl. There was an increase in ethylene evolution during seed germination and this increase was suppressed by salt stress. The reduction in ethylene evolution from imbibed seeds by salt stress was attenuated by EBR. Salt stress inhibited ACC oxidase (ACO) activity and EBR reversed the salt stress-induced decrease in ACO activity. Salt stress reduced expression of gene encoding ACO (CsACO2), and EBR reversed the salt stress-induced down-regulation of CsACO2. The alleviative effect of EBR on seed germination in the presence of NaCl was diminished by antagonist of ethylene synthesis, aminoethoxyvinylglycine. These results indicate that both ethylene and BR are likely to be associated with suppression of seed germination under salt stress and that the mitigating effect of BR on salt stress-induced inhibition of seed germination may occur through its interaction with ethylene synthesis.