DCPTA对干旱胁迫下玉米幼苗生长和抗氧化酶系统的影响

以玉米自交系‘昌7-2’幼苗为材料,采用水培方式研究了模拟不同干旱胁迫程度(10%、12.5%、15%、17.5%、20%、22.5%、25%PEG-6000)及15%PEG-6000干旱胁迫下不同浓度(5、10、15、20、25、30mg/L)植物生长调节剂2-(3,4-二氯苯氧基)三乙胺(DCPTA)对玉米幼苗生长和抗氧化酶系统的影响,以筛选出玉米苗期抗旱性鉴定的适宜PEG-6000浓度,为玉米自交系苗期的抗旱性鉴定提供依据。结果表明:不同浓度PEG-6000处理后,玉米幼苗地上部和根部的干重、鲜重、叶片相对含水量及叶绿素(SPAD)含量均下降,叶片抗氧化酶SOD、POD、CAT的活性增强,丙二醛(MDA)含量升高,渗透调节物质可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸的积累量增加。且当PEG-6000浓度达15%时,以上各指标变化均与清水对照差异显著;在15%PEG-6000浓度模拟干旱胁迫下,不同浓度DCPTA处理均使玉米幼苗上述抗氧化酶活性增强,渗透调节物质含量增加,叶片相对含水量、叶绿素(SPAD)含量和生物量提高,而MDA含量降低,并以15和20mg/L浓度效果较佳。研究认为,室内水培条件下采用PEG-6000模拟干旱鉴定玉米苗期抗旱性的适宜浓度可初步确定为15%;DCPTA处理可促进干旱胁迫下玉米幼苗的生长,并通过提高抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质含量来增强其抗旱性,其适宜浓度为15和20mg/L。     

外源芦丁预处理对水分胁迫下玉米幼苗的生理效应

以玉米(Zeamays L.)品种'郏单958'为材料.采用营养液水培法,研究了外源芦丁(Rutin)对聚乙二醇(PEG)胁迫下幼苗叶片质膜相对透性、脯氨酸、可溶性糖含量及保护酶活性的影响.结果显示:(1)在15%PEG-6000胁迫下,玉米叶片的MDA含量、质膜相对透性、脯氨酸和可溶性蛋白质含量均显著增加,保护酶SOD、CAT、POD活性显著升高.(2)一定浓度芦丁(>0.40 g/L)预处理可显著抑制水分胁迫下玉米幼苗叶片MDA含量的上升,降低叶片质膜相对透性,并诱导SOD、POD和CAT活性提高.降低脯氨酸和可溶性蛋白质含量.说明外源芦丁能够提高玉米幼苗的抗氧化作用,缓解水分胁迫引起的膜脂过氧化,保护细胞膜免受或减少损伤·达到提高植物抗旱性的目的.     

高山离子芥试管苗在PEG-6000模拟干旱条件下的生理响应

以高山离子芥(Chorispora bungeana)为试材,采用固液培养法,设置对照(不添加PEG-6000,CK)、5%PEG-6000、10%PEG-6000、20%PEG-6000、40%PEG-6000五个干旱处理水平,研究了不同浓度PEG-6000模拟干旱环境下,对高山离子芥幼苗生理生化特性的影响。结果表明:干旱胁迫下,随着不同的处理时间,脯氨酸含量始终保持上升的趋势且含量显著高于对照;可溶性蛋白的含量也有波动,呈现先上升后下降的趋势;丙二醛(MDA)含量,随着时间的延长,呈现先升高再下降的趋势且含量显著高于对照。幼苗叶片叶绿素总含量呈现先升高后下降的趋势,在浓度为40%PEG-6000胁迫下,叶绿素总含量均显著低于对照;叶绿素a则有显著降低的趋势;叶绿素b在浓度为5%PEG-6000胁迫下显著升高,在浓度为10%、20%、40%PEG-6000胁迫下也呈现显著升高的趋势;但其含量总体低于叶绿素a;Chla/Chlb的值经历了先升高后下降的趋势且均高于对照。在各浓度及不同时间处理胁迫下,高山离子芥叶片K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+含量有明显波动:K+、Ca2在5%和10%PEG-6000胁迫6、12、24、48、72h后均显著高于对照,而40%PEG-6000胁迫后均显著低于对照。Na+在5%PEG-6000各时间段胁迫后含量较对照有所增加,在其它浓度和时间处理下其含量均低于对照;而Mg2+含量在40%PEG-6000胁迫下虽有下降趋势但均显著高于对照。表明在干旱胁迫下,高山离子芥通过改变渗透调节物、光合系统中叶绿素含量及离子含量等,启动应对外界干旱环境的耐旱响应机制,从生理角度揭示了高山离子芥响应耐旱的生理生态机理。     

野牛草叶片活性氧及其清除系统对水分胁迫的响应

逆境条件下活性氧产生及其清除效率是衡量植物抗性的重要指标,而活性氧对植物组织的氧化伤害和抗氧化酶活性常因材料的遗传或生理差异性而发生变化。以同一基因型的野牛草(Buchloe dactyloides(Nutt.)Engelm'texoka')克隆分株叶片为材料,采用Hoagland营养液培养,研究了10%、20%和30%PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫下,野牛草叶片活性氧的产生、脂质过氧化和抗氧化酶活性变化规律。结果表明:随着PEG-6000浓度的增加及胁迫时间的延长,超氧阴离子(O2-.)的产生速率、过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量均显著增加;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD EC1.15.1.1)、愈创木酚过氧化物酶(G-POD EC1.11.1.7)和过氧化氢酶(CATEC1.11.1.6)活性呈先上升后下降的变化趋势;SOD、G-POD与CAT活性达到峰值的时间随PEG-6000浓度的增加而提前。认为水分胁迫下,抗氧化酶可有效清除活性氧自由基,但随胁迫时间的延长,抗氧化酶活性受到抑制。     

过表达IbOr基因甘薯增强抗旱性的生理机制

以超表达甘薯橙色基因(IbOr)的转基因甘薯(TS)以及非转基因甘薯(NT)为实验材料,通过15%聚乙二醇6000(PEG-6000)模拟干旱条件,研究转基因与非转基因甘薯幼苗在水分胁迫不同时间的光合系统,膜脂过氧化及抗氧化防御系统中主要指标的变化情况,探讨转基因甘薯耐旱性的生理机制。结果显示:(1)随PEG-6000胁迫时间延长,甘薯叶片的叶绿素、类胡萝卜素含量及其叶片净光合速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度、蒸腾速率都显著降低,但转基因株系降低幅度小于非转基因植株。(2)在正常供水和水分胁迫下,超表达IbOr基因甘薯叶片中O-·2、MDA含量均低于非转基因甘薯,即转基因甘薯具有较低的活性氧水平且脂膜受损伤较小。(3)PEG-6000胁迫24h后,甘薯叶片中SOD、POD酶活性均增加,48h达到最大值,且转基因甘薯中2种酶活性显著高于非转基因甘薯。研究表明,过表达IbOr基因可以有效减轻甘薯在水分胁迫条件下受损害的程度,且可能主要通过提高甘薯的抗氧化胁迫能力来完成。     

干旱胁迫对高山离子芥试管苗抗氧化系统及其活性氧代谢的影响

该试验以高山离子芥试管苗(Chorispora bungeana)为试材,采用固液培养法,设置对照(不添加PEG-6000,CK),轻度干旱胁迫(5%PEG-6000)、中度干旱胁迫(20%PEG-6000)、重度干旱胁迫(40%PEG-6000)4个干旱处理水平,分析干旱胁迫对高山离子芥幼苗抗氧化系统、活性氧代谢等部分生理特征的影响,以揭示高山离子芥在干旱胁迫下的生理响应特征,为进一步探讨其对干旱环境的适应机制奠定基础。结果显示:(1)随着干旱胁迫程度的增加以及在各时间胁迫处理下,抗氧化酶SOD活性及可溶性糖含量显著升高,POD活性、丙二醛含量、CAT活性和APX活性均经历了先升后降的过程。(2)超氧阴离子(O-·2)的产生速率和过氧化氢(H2O2)的含量均显著升高;高山离子芥试管苗叶片相对电导率呈现出升-降-升的变化趋势。(3)相关分析结果显示,MDA与相对电导率、可溶性糖、SOD、APX、O-·2及H2O2呈极显著正相关关系,可溶性糖与SOD、POD、O-·2及H2O2呈极显著正相关关系;相对电导率以及保护酶系均与O-·2、H2O2呈极显著正相关关系。研究表明,高山离子芥具有较强的耐旱性,高山离子芥试管苗在响应干旱胁迫过程中,抗氧化酶系、活性氧代谢、脂质过氧化及渗透调节物等共同参与了高山离子芥试管苗对干旱胁迫的综合抗逆性形成,从而积极启动应对外界干旱环境的耐旱响应机制。     

外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸对干旱胁迫下甘草种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

以药用植物甘草种子和幼苗为材料,在20%PEG-6000模拟干旱胁迫条件下,测定了不同浓度外源5-氨基乙酰丙酸(ALA)处理甘草种子的发芽势(Gv)、发芽率(Gr)、发芽指数(Gi)和活力指数(Vi)的变化,以及ALA处理幼苗叶片的质膜透性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性。结果显示:(1)在20%PEG-6000胁迫下,甘草种子萌发受到显著抑制,而各项萌发指标经过不同浓度的ALA进行恢复处理后均有明显提高,且均以10 mg.L-1ALA处理的各项指标值最大,其种子发芽势(75%)、发芽率(91%)比干旱胁迫对照显著提高了35%和30%,发芽指数(36.2)和活力指数(709.7)分别提高至干旱胁迫的2.6和3.5倍。(2)各ALA处理较对照均显著提高了干旱胁迫下甘草幼苗总生物量、可溶性糖的含量及脯氨酸含量,却显著降低了甘草叶片的MDA含量和质膜透性,同时显著提高了干旱胁迫下甘草叶片中的SOD、POD和CAT的活性,且以10 mg.L-1ALA处理后的酶活性最强。研究表明,适宜浓度(10 mg.L-1)的ALA能显著提高干旱胁迫下甘草种子的萌发能力,通过调节渗透调节物质含量和保护酶活性来有效减缓干旱胁迫对甘草幼苗的伤害,提高甘草种子及幼苗的抗旱能力。     

等渗盐胁迫对番茄抗氧化酶和ATP酶及焦磷酸酶活性的影响

用Ca(NO3)2 80 mmol/L和NaCl 120 mmol/L等渗溶液处理番茄幼苗后,细胞质和叶绿体中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)的活性升高,并且NaCl胁迫的作用明显高于Ca(NO3)2胁迫.Ca(NO3)2处理提高了线粒体中SOD、CAT、APX的活性,而NaCl处理降低了它们的活性.根系质膜H -ATPase、液泡膜H -ATPase、焦磷酸酶(H -PPase)的活性和叶片丙二醛(MDA)及脯氨酸含量在两种盐胁迫后明显增加.NaCl处理对植株生长的抑制程度明显高于Ca(NO3)2处理.     

PEG-6000模拟干旱协迫对大蓟叶片生理特性的影响

以大蓟幼苗为试验材料,采用梯度浓度的聚乙二醇(PEG-6000,浓度为5%、10%、15%、20%、25%、30%)模拟干旱胁迫24h、48h和72h,测定大蓟叶片相对含水量(RWC)、丙二醛(MDA)含量、渗透调节物质含量及保护酶活性随胁迫时间的变化,探讨大蓟的耐旱性和抗旱生理机制。结果表明:(1)随干旱胁迫时间的延长和PEG-6000浓度增加,叶片RWC均呈降低趋势,最大降幅为55.86%,MDA含量均大幅度增加,最大增幅为186.21%。(2)随干旱胁迫时间延长,叶片可溶性糖与游离脯氨酸含量在PEG-6000浓度≤10%时逐渐升高,在大于10%时呈先升高后降低的变化趋势;而随PEG浓度增加,可溶性糖与游离脯氨酸含量在各时间点均呈先上升后下降趋势,可溶性糖峰值在处理24h、48h和72h依次出现在PEG浓度为20%、20%和10%时,游离脯氨酸峰值则依次出现在PEG浓度为20%、15%和15%条件下,两指标的最大增幅均出现在胁迫处理48h时PEG浓度分别为20%和15%,且分别为CK的4.7和10.7倍。(3)随PEG浓度增加,叶片保护性酶(SOD、POD和CAT)活性除SOD在24h时呈逐渐升高趋势外,其余时间点下均呈先升高后下降趋势,3种酶最大增幅依次为370.14%、248.91%和118.78%,前二者均出现在胁迫72h、15%PEG浓度下,后者出现在胁迫48h、10%PEG浓度下。研究认为,长时间(72h)、15%PEG-6000浓度胁迫下,大蓟具有较强的渗透调节能力和较高的酶活性,表现出较强的耐旱能力;若超过此胁迫浓度,大蓟渗透调节能力降低,酶活性减弱,含水量持续降低,MDA持续增加,生理代谢受到明显抑制。     

NaCl胁迫对盐芥质膜和液泡膜ATPase活性的影响

以盐生植物盐芥和中生植物拟南芥幼苗为材料,研究了盐胁迫对它们叶片和根质膜、液泡膜H+-ATPase、Ca2+-ATPases和K+-ATPase活性以及H+-ATPase、Na+/H+ 逆向转运蛋白表达的影响.结果显示:在NaCl胁迫下,盐芥叶片和根质膜的H+-ATPase活性分别比对照显著升高41%～212%和35%～53%,液泡膜的H+-ATPase分别显著升高281%～373%和4%～38%,而拟南芥却比相应对照都显著降低;相同盐浓度胁迫下,盐芥叶片的H+-ATPase活性比根部高4～8倍,盐芥根也远高于拟南芥.在NaCl胁迫下,盐芥叶片和根的液泡膜H+-ATPase蛋白质β亚基含量变化与其酶活性变化趋势一致,质膜Na+/H+ 逆向转运蛋白的表达量与Na+含量变化趋势一致.盐胁迫下盐芥根中Ca2+-ATPases和K+-ATPase活性的增加与根中Ca2+和K+含量呈显著正相关.研究发现,在盐胁迫条件下,盐芥能有效增强H+-ATPase蛋白和Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白表达,显著提高其根系与叶片质膜和液泡膜的H+-ATPase、Ca2+-ATPase和K+-ATPase活性,维持细胞质中较高的Ca2+和K+水平,从而缓解盐胁迫的伤害,增强耐盐性.     

不同生育期玉米叶片光合特性及水分利用效率对水分胁迫的响应

利用大型移动防雨棚开展了玉米水分胁迫及复水试验,通过分析玉米叶片光合数据,揭示了不同生育期水分胁迫及复水对玉米光合特性及水分利用效率的影响。结果表明:水分胁迫导致玉米叶片整体光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度下降以及光合速率日变化的峰值提前;水分胁迫后的玉米叶片蒸腾速率、光合速率和气孔导度为适应干旱缺水均较对照显著下降,从而提高了水分利用效率,缩小了与水分充足条件下玉米叶片的水分利用效率差值;在中度和重度水分胁迫条件下,玉米叶片的水分利用效率降幅低于光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度的降幅, 有时甚至高于正常供水条件下的水分利用效率;适度的水分胁迫能提高玉米叶片的水分利用效率,从而增强叶片对水分的利用能力,抵御干旱的逆境;水分亏缺对玉米光合速率、蒸腾速率及水分利用效率的影响具有较明显滞后效应,干旱后复水,光合作用受抑制仍然持续;水分胁迫时间越长、胁迫程度越重,叶片的光合作用越呈不可逆性;拔节-吐丝期水分胁迫对玉米叶片光合作用的逆制比三叶-拔节期更难恢复。     

Drought stress stimulates p-nitrophenyl phosphate hydrolysis rate of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase from wheat leaves

The influence of drought stress on the ATP and p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNPP) hydrolysis activity by plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase was investigated using purified plasma membrane vesicles from wheat leaves by two-phase partitioning. Drought stress increased the ATPase activity, and the optimal pH was shifted from 6.5 to about 7.0. Drought stress also stimulated the PNPP hydrolysis rate. The K_m for PNPP hydrolysis was moved from 4.49 ± 0.33 mM to 3.64 ± 0.12 mM. In addition, the PNPP hydrolysis was more sensitive to vanadate under drought compared to the control. However, the inhibitory effect of hydroxylamine on the ATPase was not changed by the present drought stress. In addtion, drought stress also decreased the trypsin activation of PNPP hydrolysis by PM H⁺-ATPase. These results suggested that drought stress altered the catalytic mechanism of the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase, and the stimulation of its activity by drought stress was mainly due to increase of the catalytic activity of its phosphatase domain. It is also suggested that drought stress might alter the structure or property of the C-terminal end of PM H⁺-ATPase, therefore increasing the catalytic activity of the phosphatase domain.     

干旱胁迫下亚精胺对玉米幼苗抗旱性影响的生理生化机制

为探究外源亚精胺(Spd)在增强玉米干旱胁迫耐受性中的作用,以‘先玉335’(干旱不敏感型)和‘丰禾1’(干旱敏感型)为试验材料,采用营养液水培法,研究了15%聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟干旱胁迫下,外源Spd (0.1 mmol·L^-1)对玉米幼苗生长、光合特性、叶绿素含量、渗透调节物质、活性氧生成、膜质过氧化及根系活力的影响.结果表明:干旱胁迫下,外源Spd处理可显著促进干旱胁迫下玉米幼苗的生长;提高叶绿素含量、净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(g_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)和水分利用效率(WUE),减缓‘丰禾1’叶片中胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)的升高,有效减轻干旱胁迫对玉米幼苗叶片光合作用的气孔限制和非气孔限制;增加脯氨酸和可溶性糖的含量;降低O₂^-·生成速率、H₂O₂和丙二醛(MDA)含量、细胞膜透性,有效缓解了胁迫对膜的伤害;增强幼苗根系活力;其中干旱敏感品种‘丰禾1’变化幅度大于耐旱品种‘先玉335’.表明在干旱胁迫下,外源Spd能促进玉米幼苗对光能的捕获与转换,增强光合作用,促进幼苗的生长,并能够通过减少玉米幼苗体内活性氧的产生,增加渗透调节物质的积累以稳定细胞膜系统,提高根系活力,从而增强幼苗对干旱逆境的适应性,且对干旱敏感品种‘丰禾1’的效果更显著.     

Jatropha is vulnerable to cold injury due to impaired activity and expression of plasma membrane H+-ATPase

Cold stress is one of the major environmental factors limiting the amount of plant mass for bioenergy production. A chilling-sensitive Jatropha (Jatropha curcas L.) as a bioenergy crop was used to investigate the cold injury process at the physiological and biochemical levels. Various physiological parameters such as leaf length, width, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and electrolyte leakage were measured to determine the growth rate of leaves cold-treated (7 and 2 °C) for 5 days. These parameters of cold-treated Jatropha were significantly reduced from day 1 compared with control (23 °C). Using the pH indicator bromocresol purple, it was shown that surface pH of Jatropha root in control was strongly acidified by time only from the starting pH 6, while H⁺-efflux of the surface of cold-treated roots did not change. H⁺-ATPase activity of plasma membrane (PM) isolated from leaves and roots of cold-treated Jatropha was decreased in a time-dependent manner. The expression of PM H⁺-ATPase and 14-3-3 protein, which participates in phosphorylation of PM H⁺-ATPase was reduced in the presence of cold stress. Interestingly, fusicoccin, an activator of the PM H⁺-ATPase, alleviated cold-injury by stimulating the enzyme in leaves. These results may suggest that the activity and expression of PM H⁺-ATPase in Jatropha is closely related to the overcoming of cold stress.     

Growth,photosynthesis and H+-ATPase activity in two Jerusalem artichoke varieties under NaCl-induced stress

In order to evaluate differential growth, photosynthesis and H⁺-ATPase activity responses to salt-induced stress, two Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) genotypes (Nanyu No. 1 and Qingyu No. 2) were used in sand-culture experiment with different concentrations of NaCl (0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 mM). After 20 days of growth, the NaCl stress resulted in a decrease of biomass accumulation, relative leaf expansion rate and photosynthetic rate, but an increase of proline content in both genotypes. Compared with Qingyu No. 2, Nanyu No. 1 had lower biomass, photosynthetic rate, gas exchange and transpiration rate, but higher proline content, activities of plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase (PM H⁺-ATPase) and vacuolar membrane H⁺-ATPase (VM H⁺-ATPase). Hence, the NaCl adaptation strategy in Nanyu No. 1 was by lowering photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate while maintaining high H⁺-ATPase activities, whereas the adjustment of Qingyu No. 2 was by keeping much higher rate of proline accumulation and concentration of chlorophyll. The differences in salt tolerance showed that different adaptation mechanisms existed between cultivars of Jerusalem artichoke. The findings offered the possibility of selecting salt-tolerant genotypes of Jerusalem artichoke.     

Fulvic Acid,Brassinolide, and Uniconazole Mediated Regulation of Morphological and Physiological Traits in Maize Seedlings Under Water Stress

Water stress is one of the most important factors limiting sustainable crop production. Therefore, the effects of the plant growth regulators (PGRs) fulvic acid (FA), brassinolide (BR), and uniconazole (Uni) on seedling growth and physiology of two maize (Zea mays L.) varieties were evaluated under???0.7 MPa water stress induced by polyethylene glycol-6000. Under drought stress, the PGRs promoted seedling growth, altered the root-to-shoot ratio, and significantly increased root biomass, length, surface area, diameter, and volume. In addition, depending on the PGR, net photosynthesis rate, SPAD value (indicating chlorophyll content), and water use efficiency increased significantly, under drought stress, whereas transpiration rate decreased. The PGRs also significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities and significantly decreased malondialdehyde accumulation in leaves and roots under drought stress. Zhengdan958 showed greater variation in physiological responses and stronger drought resistance than Xundan20. In alleviating drought stress in maize seedlings, FA had the greatest effects on shoot growth and leaf physiology; Uni exerted its effects by regulating root structure, and BR effects were intermediate. Under drought stress, the three PGRs increased maize seedling growth, which reduced drought stress-induced damage and improved plant ability to resist the adversity. Based on a comprehensive analysis of physiological indices of drought resistance, Uni is recommended as the best PGR to improve maize seedlings resistance to drought.

     

硅对干旱胁迫下玉米水分代谢的影响

利用盆栽试验研究了施硅(K2SiO3)对玉米植株水分代谢的影响.结果表明:施硅降低了干旱胁迫下玉米植株的气孔导度,降低了干旱胁迫早期到中期的蒸腾速率,保持了干旱胁迫后期较高的蒸腾速率,从而导致施硅玉米植株的叶片含水量和水势高于对照.由于植株的水分状况改善,施硅玉米植株生物量高于对照.硅增强玉米植株的抗旱性,而提高植株保水能力是硅提高抗旱性的重要原因.     

Nitric oxide enhances salt tolerance in maize seedlings through increasing activities of proton-pump and Na+/H+ antiport in the tonoplast

Nitric oxide (NO), an endogenous signaling molecule in animals and plants, mediates responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Our previous work demonstrated that 100 μM sodium nitroprusside (SNP, an NO donor) treatment of maize seedlings increased K⁺ accumulation in roots, leaves and sheathes, while decreasing Na⁺ accumulation (Zhang et al. in J Plant Physiol Mol Biol 30:455–459, 2004b). Here we investigate how NO regulates Na⁺, K⁺ ion homeostasis in maize. Pre-treatment with 100 μM SNP for 2 days improved later growth of maize plants under 100 mM NaCl stress, as indicated by increased dry matter accumulation, increased chlorophyll content, and decreased membrane leakage from leaf cells. An NO scavenger, methylene blue (MB-1), blocked the effect of SNP. These results indicated that SNP-derived NO enhanced maize tolerance to salt stress. Further analysis showed that NaCl induced a transient increase in the NO level in maize leaves. Both NO and NaCl treatment stimulated vacuolar H⁺-ATPase and H⁺-PPase activities, resulting in increased H⁺-translocation and Na⁺/H⁺ exchange. NaCl-induced H⁺-ATPase and H⁺-PPase activities were diminished by MB-1. 1-Butanol, an inhibitor of phosphatidic acid (PA) production by phospholipase D (PLD), reduced NaCl- and NO-induced H⁺-ATPase activation. In contrast, applied PA stimulated H⁺-ATPase activity. These results suggest that NO acts as a signal molecule in the NaCl response by increasing the activities of vacuolar H⁺-ATPase and H⁺-PPase, which provide the driving force for Na⁺/H⁺ exchange. PLD and PA play an important role in this process.