荔枝胚蛋白质的提取方法

以不同体积的Tris-HCl(0.1mol／L,pH8．8)为提取液,结合不同含量(以胚鲜重计)的PVP40,对怀枝、黑叶和桂味等荔枝(Lithi chinensis)品种的胚蛋白质进行提取。结果表明,提取液体积为胚鲜重的5倍(ml g-1 FW),并加入15％的 PVP40时,提取蛋白质的效果最好,可用于荔枝胚可溶性蛋白质含量的测定;胚乳蛋白质的提取则以等体积的提取液(内含2％的PVP40)为佳。加入10% PVP40的胚蛋白提取液可直接进行SDS-PAGE电泳,用10倍于蛋白质提取液体积的乙醇沉淀胚和胚乳的蛋白提取液,可得到最佳的SDS-PAGE电泳效果。     

外源CaCl2对NaCl胁迫下酸枣幼苗氮代谢的影响

为了研究CaCl₂对NaCl胁迫下酸枣幼苗根、茎、叶的氮代谢影响,探索钙缓解幼苗NaCl胁迫的作用途径。该研究以酸枣幼苗为试验材料,检测不同浓度CaCl₂(0、5、10、20 mmol/L)对NaCl(150 mmol/L)胁迫下幼苗叶片H₂O₂、O^-·₂含量,根、茎、叶中硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸合酶(GOGAT)活性及游离氨基酸、可溶性蛋白、硝态氮含量的影响,并采用主成分分析法筛选出评价CaCl₂缓解NaCl胁迫效应的生理指标。结果表明：与NaCl胁迫相比,盐胁迫幼苗叶片的H2O₂、O^-·₂积累量在5、10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理下显著减少;GOGAT活性在5、10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理下的植株根和茎内以及各浓度 CaCl₂处理的叶内均显著升高, GS、NR活性在10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的根内和10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的茎内以及5、10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的叶内均显著升高;可溶性蛋白含量在5、10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的根、茎、叶内均显著升高,游离氨基酸含量在10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的根和茎内以及10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的叶内均显著升高,硝态氮含量在10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的根和茎内以及5、10、20 mmol/L CaCl₂处理的叶内均显著升高。研究发现,150 mmol/L NaCl胁迫对酸枣幼苗造成明显过氧化伤害,抑制了体内氮代谢;外源CaCl₂可通过促进幼苗根和茎内GS/GOGAT循环对NH₄⁺的同化作用,提高叶片NR活性,加快硝态氮的转化速率,从而增强幼苗对NaCl胁迫的适应性,并以10 mmol/L CaCl₂处理缓解效果最佳;游离氨基酸、GOGAT、NR可以作为CaCl₂缓解幼苗NaCl胁迫伤害的评价指标。     

适用于黄麻根部蛋白质组学分析的双向电泳技术

以黄麻品种'9511'幼苗为试验材料,研究其根部蛋白提取方法的得率及不同的蛋白样品溶解方法、电泳上样量和IPG胶条pH范围对双向电泳图谱的影响.结果表明:采用三氯乙酸(TCA)/丙酮沉淀法提取黄麻根部蛋白质,蛋白得率为80 mg/g;蛋白粉末溶解采用两次水化法,裂解液中含有7 mol/L尿素、2 mol/L硫脲、4% CHAPS、65 mmol/L DTT、0.2%载体两性电解质和1 mmol/L PMSF,能够较充分地溶解蛋白质,且制备的样品浓度能够满足双向电泳上样要求;上样量为400 μg时得到的图谱分辨率高、蛋白斑点分布均匀、清晰;等电聚焦(Isoelectrofocusing,IEF)采用pH 4～7、17 cm的IPG胶条时所得图谱质量最佳.研究表明,样品的制备及IEF有效除盐对获得理想的2-DE图谱非常关键;取材、染色等细节对2-DE的重复性影响很大.     

肉桂酸和咖啡酸对莴苣生长的化感作用及其机理研究

该研究以莴苣为受体植物,分析了酚酸类化感物质肉桂酸和咖啡酸对莴苣幼苗生长的活性效应及其作用机理,以揭示酚酸类化合物的化感作用机制。结果显示:(1)不同浓度的肉桂酸均对莴苣幼苗根长、茎长及鲜重产生明显的抑制作用,当肉桂酸的浓度为1 000μmol/L时其对莴苣幼苗根长、茎长及鲜重的抑制率分别达到了89%、74%和49%;咖啡酸对莴苣幼苗根长和茎长均表现出低浓度(0.1、1.0和10μmol/L)促进、高浓度(100和1 000μmol/L)抑制的活性作用模式,且高浓度下肉桂酸对幼苗生长的抑制作用明显强于咖啡酸。(2)较低浓度(0.1、1.0和10μmol/L)的肉桂酸和咖啡酸对莴苣根尖细胞活力均无明显影响;高浓度(100和1 000μmol/L)的肉桂酸和咖啡酸使莴苣根尖细胞的死亡数明显增加。(3)低浓度(0.1和1.0μmol/L)的肉桂酸和较低浓度(0.1、1.0和10μmol/L)的咖啡酸对莴苣根部的活性氧积累均无明显影响;当肉桂酸处理浓度大于10μmol/L及咖啡酸处理浓度大于100μmol/L时,随着浓度的升高莴苣根部活性氧的积累大量增加。研究表明,一定浓度的肉桂酸和咖啡酸均能够诱导莴苣体内活性氧的产生和积累,并降低幼苗根尖细胞的活力,进而影响莴苣幼苗的生长发育,且肉桂酸的生长抑制作用明显强于咖啡酸。     

褐藻叶绿体的制备

在4℃条件下,采用CaCl₂溶液浸泡褐藻裙带菜（Undaria pinnatifida）的叶状体,观察CaCl₂溶液的浓度和浸泡时间对裙带菜叶绿体提取率及其荧光特性的影响.结果表明,裙带菜的叶状体经过CaCl₂溶液浸泡后,其叶绿体的提取率有明显地提高.根据裙带菜叶绿体的提取率和室温荧光发射光谱的测定结果,认为最适的方法是采用0.2 mol/L的CaCl₂溶液浸泡10 min.在这种条件下,裙带菜叶绿体的提取率是传统制备方法的5倍.室温荧光发射光谱的测定结果说明叶绿体的完整性较好.     

柚皮苷对高糖作用下MC3T3-E1细胞活力和Akt通路相关因子表达的影响

目的探讨柚皮苷（NG）对高糖环境下MC3T3-E1细胞活力的影响及可能的分子机制。 方法体外培养小鼠MC3T3-E1细胞，实验分5组：对照组（正常无血清培养基）、高糖组（含25 mmol/L葡萄糖）、0.1 μmol/L +高糖组（0.1 μmol/L NG + 25 mmol/L葡萄糖）、1 μmol/L +高糖组（1 μmol/L NG+25 mmol/L葡萄糖）、10 μmol/L +高糖组（10 μmol/L NG+25 mmol/L葡萄糖）。药物干预后，采用CCK-8法检测细胞活力；实时荧光定量PCR（qPCR）法检测细胞成骨特异性转录因子（Runx2）、胰岛素样生长因子-1（IGF-1）、蛋白激酶（Akt1）mRNA的表达；蛋白质印迹法（Western blot）检测细胞碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、Akt1、IGF-1蛋白的表达。多组间比较采用单因素方差分析，组间两两比较采用LSD-t检验。 结果CCK8检测结果显示，与对照组比较，高糖组细胞OD值（12 h：0.90±0.01比0.80±0.01，24 h：1.00±0.05比0.84±0.01，48 h：1.09±0.03比0.90±0.01）均降低，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.01）；与高糖组比较，0.1 μmol/L+高糖组细胞OD值（24 h：0.84±0.01比0.93±0.05，48 h：0.90±0.01比0.99±0.01）、1 μmol/L +高糖组和10 μmol/L+高糖组OD值（12 h：0.80±0.01比0.92±0.01、1.01±0.32，24 h：0.84±0.01比1.01±0.04、1.16±0.03，48 h：0.90±0.01比1.12±0.02、1.20±0.02）均升高，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。与对照组比较，高糖组细胞Runx2、IGF-1、Akt1的mRNA的表达水平（24 h：1.00比0.34±0.02、1.00比0.34±0.01、1.00比0.15±0.02）、（48 h：1.00比0.72±0.03、1.00比1.09±0.07、1.00比0.38±0.04）降低，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.01）。与高糖组比较，1 μmol/L +高糖组和10 μmol/L+高糖组细胞Runx2、IGF-1、Akt1的mRNA表达水平（24 h：0.34±0.02比0.62±0.09、0.64±0.05，0.34±0.01比0.77±0.03、1.02±0.07，0.15±0.02比0.24±0.08、0.4±0.09）、（48 h：0.72±0.03比1.27±0.02、1.37±0.02，1.09±0.07比2.44±0.19、2.73±0.04，0.38±0.04比0.86±0.06、1.43±0.03）均升高，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。与对照组比较，高糖组细胞ALP、Akt1、IGF-1蛋白表达水平（48 h：1.00比0.72±0.02、1.00比0.89±0.03、1.00比0.09±0.01）均降低，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）；与高糖组比较，0.1 μmol/L+高糖组、1 μmol/L+高糖组和10 μmol/L+高糖组ALP、Akt1、IGF-1蛋白表达水平（48 h：0.72±0.02比1.92±0.02、2.30±0.30、3.09±0.10，0.89±0.03比1.50 ± 0.03、1.43±0.04、1.40±0.13，0.09±0.01比1.75±0.01、2.30±0.31、2.07±0.07）均升高，差异有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。 结论NG逆转高糖诱导的MC3T3-E1细胞活力减退；同时改善高糖的抑制作用，促进MC3T3-E1细胞IGF-1、AKt-1、Runx2 mRNA和IGF-1、AKt-1、ALP蛋白的表达。     

产热凝胶土壤杆菌ATCC31749蛋白质组双向电泳图谱的构建

建立了热凝胶生产茵土壤杆茵茵体总蛋白的蛋白质提取方法和双向电泳方案,确定了使用蛋白质裂解液(7 mol/L尿素,2 mol/L硫脲,1%ASB-14去垢剂,40 mmol/L Tris,0.001%溴酚蓝,1 mmol/L EDTA,1%TBP和1%两性电解质)结合超声破碎法来提取茵体总蛋白的方案为最佳,选择17 cm...     

米曲氨基酰化酶菌株的选育*

利用原生质体融合技术对米曲霉3042和米曲霉10B,进行了营养互补融合。以30%PEG(MW=6000)、0.01mol/L CaCl₂、0.05mol/L Gly做为融合剂,融合频率达到0.47%。共获得26株绿色融合株,并对其杂合二倍体的孢子进行了PFA和UV的诱发分离,获得一株生长速度快、氨基酰化酶活性高的单倍体菌株。     

融合牛肠激酶轻链EKL包涵体蛋白的复性纯

大肠杆菌高密度发酵表达肠激酶轻链融合蛋白DsbA-rEK_L,主要以包涵体形式存在。包涵体经4mol/L尿素和 0.5% Triton X100洗涤,以6mol/L盐酸胍、100mmol/L DTT溶解,在胱氨酸存在下,以脉冲加样方式复性。融合蛋白复性在6mmol/L胱氨酸存在下、脉冲加量0.03mg/mL和复性终蛋白浓度0.3mg/mL为最佳复性方案。 复性的融合蛋白加2mmol/L CaCL2后快速自切。经IDASepharose及Qsepharose 纯化,rEKL纯度可达95%以上,可高效酶切重组瑞特普酶融合蛋白Trx-rPA。实现了大规模生产rEK_L,每升发酵液经复性及纯化后,可得rEK_L 60mg/L以上,使以融合蛋白表达rPA等药用蛋白成为现实。     

饲料中黄曲霉毒素B1、G1和棕曲霉毒紊A的薄层层析测定法

饲料样品25g,用100 ml乙睛:4%氯化钠溶液(9:1)抽提,吸取25 ml提取液,以石油醚脱脂二次,加0.1mol/L碳酸氢钠溶液12.5ml后,用氯仿提取二次,氯仿层放入蒸发皿中,于60℃水浴挥干,残渣以苯乙睛溶解定容为1ml,供测定黄曲霉毒素B₁、 G₁。碳酸氢钠水层中加1mol/L盐酸1ml左右调节pH值为4-5,再以氯仿提取二次,氯仿层放人蒸发皿中,于60℃水浴挥干,残渣以苯乙酸溶解定容至1ml,供测定棕曲霉毒素A。黄曲霉毒素B₁、 G₁的薄层板以乙醚横展、丙酮氯仿纵展。棕曲霉毒素A的薄层板以丙酮氯仿横展,甲苯乙酸乙醋90%甲酸纵展。展板后分别在波长为365nm和254nm的紫外光下观察。如为阳性样品,标记后用薄层扫描仪定量。棕曲霉毒素A阳性样品应先喷碳酸氢钠乙醇溶液后再扫描。本测定方法对三种毒素的最低检出量均为0.2ng/点,最低检出狠量均为3.2ppb。     

非洲山毛豆叶片蛋白组双向电泳样品制备方法的建立

以非洲山毛豆叶片为材料,对非洲山毛豆总蛋白质3种提取方法(TCA/丙酮沉淀法、尿素/硫脲法和酚-甲醇/醋酸铵沉淀法)以及3种蛋白裂解液进行比较分析。结果表明,采用酚-甲醇/醋酸铵沉淀法提取非洲山毛豆叶片总蛋白,用蛋白裂解液(7mol/L尿素,2mol/L硫脲,4%CHAPS,40mmol/LTris-base,1%Bio-LytepH3.5-10,65mmol/LDTT)裂解蛋白1h,2-DE图谱分离到的蛋白点效果最好。此方法适合于色素、多酚及黄酮类次生代谢物含量较多的非洲山毛豆叶片总蛋白制备方法。     

Does Seed Priming Induce Changes in the Levels of Some Endogenous Plant Hormones in Hexaploid Wheat Plants Under Salt Stress？

In order to assess whether salt tolerance could be Improved In spring wheat （Triticum aestivum L.）, the present study was performed by soaking the seeds of two cultlvars, namely MH-97 （salt sensitive） and Inqlab-91 （salt tolerant）, for 12 h In distilled water or 100 mol/m^3 CaCl2, KCI, or NaCI. Primed seeds from each treatment group and non-primed seeds were sown In a field In which NaCI salinity of 15 dS/m was developed. Priming of seeds with CaCl2, followed by priming with KCI and NaCI, was found to be effective In alleviating the adverse effects of salt stress on both wheat cultivars In terms of shoot fresh and dry weights and grain yield. Priming with CaCl2 alleviated the adverse effects of salt stress on hormonal balance In plants of both cultlvars. In MH-97 plants, CaCl2 pretreatment considerably reduced leaf absclslc acid （ABA） concentrations and Increased leaf free salicylic acid （SA） concentrations under both saline and non-saline conditions. In contrast, In the Inqlab-91 plant, CaCl2 Increased free Indoleacetic acid （IAA） and indolebutyrlc acid （IBA） content. However, priming of seeds with CaCl2 did not alter free polyamlne levels in either cultlvar, although spermldlne levels were considerably lower In plants raised from seeds treated with CaCl2 for both cultlvars under saline conditions. Priming with KCI Increased growth In Inqlab-91 plants, but not In MH-97 plants, under saline conditions. The salinity Induced reducUon In auxins （IAA and IBA） was alleviated by NaCI priming In both cultlvars under saline conditions. However, NaCI Increased leaf free ABA content and lowered leaf SA and putresclne levels In Inqlab-91 plants under saline conditions. In conclusion, although all three priming agents （I.e. CaCl2, KCI, and NaCI） were effective In alleviating the adverse effects of salt stress on wheat plants, their effects on altering the levels of different plant hormones were different In the two cuItlvars.     

泡桐叶片蛋白质提取方法的研究

24个提取泡桐叶片蛋白质组合的试验结果表明,用UKC(9.5 mol／L尿素,5 mmol／L K2CO3,1.25％ CTAB,0.5％二硫苏糖醇,2％两性载体电解质pH3.5～10,5％ Triton X-100)提取由10％冷(-40℃)三氯醋酸(丙酮配制,内含0.07％的巯基乙醇)处理的泡桐叶片干粉提取出的蛋白质总量和种类最多。这表明该方法可用于泡桐叶片蛋白质的提取。     

Growth and mineral content of coriander (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Coriandrum sativum</Emphasis> L.) plants under mild salinity with different salts

Soil salinity is a complex issue in which various anions and cations contribute to have a general adverse effect on plant growth. In the present study, effects of salinity from various salts including sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium chloride?+?sodium chloride?+?calcium chloride (KCl?+?NaCl?+?CaCl₂), potassium sulfate?+?magnesium nitrate (K₂SO₄?+?Mg(NO₃)₂) at two electric conductivities (EC) of 2 and 4 dS m^?1 of irrigation water, and a distilled water control were evaluated on coriander plants (Coriandrum sativum L.). At EC?=?2, all salts increased plant yield (shoot fresh weight) than control. Most growth traits including plant height, shoot fresh and dry weight, leaf SPAD value and vitamin C, leaf K, Mg and P concentrations were increased by K₂SO₄?+?MgNO₃, and remained unchanged by KCl?+?NaCl?+?CaCl₂ treatment (except reduced plant height). Leaf’s zinc concentration reduced by either treatment. Even sodium chloride at EC?=?2 showed some beneficial effects on leaf chlorophyll index, root fresh weight, leaf’s calcium and phosphorus concentration; however, most traits remained unchanged than control. Treatment of plants with NaCl or KCl?+?NaCl?+?CaCl₂ at either EC increased the number of flowered shoots and leaf proline content than control. Most growth and quality traits including leaf minerals and vitamin C content were reduced by NaCl at EC?=?4; however, shoot fresh and dry weights remained unchanged than control. Plant root fresh weight increased by NaCl at EC?=?2 and decreased at EC?=?4 than control. At EC?=?4, shoot dry weight was increased and leaf Ca, P, Zn and Mn were decreased by KCl?+?NaCl?+?CaCl₂, whereas shoot dry weight, leaf SPAD value and vitamin C content, leaf Mg and P were increased and leaf Zn was decreased by K₂SO₄?+?MgNO₃ than control. The results indicate that in contrast to sodium chloride, the salinity effects of other salts can not be detrimental on coriander plant growth.     

The Decrease of Extracted Apoplast Protein in Soybean Root Tip by Aluminium Treatment

Aluminium effect on the mobility of apoplast protein in root tips was studied. Two-day seedlings of soybean (Glycine max. (L.) Merr. cv. Tsurunoko) were treated with 50 μM AlCl₃ for 2 h. Using infiltration method, the apoplast protein in root tips was extracted with 20 or 100 mM MgCl₂. When 20 mM MgCl₂ was used to collect weakly bound protein to apoplast, the amount of protein extracted was reduced to be about 20 % compared with that of control and the band of 97 kDa disappeared in SDS-PAGE gel. However, the 97 kDa protein could be extracted by 100 mM MgCl₂, which were used for extraction of more tightly bound protein to apoplast, and the amount was estimated to be the same as that of control. When the protein was further developed in two-dimensional electrophoresis, three spots were found between pI 6.4 and 6.5. This is the first report of an Al effect on the mobility of apoplast protein. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Regulation of Apoplastic pH in Source Leaves of Vicia faba by Gibberellic Acid

Leaf discs of broad bean (Vicia faba L.), peeled on the spongy mesophyll side, rapidly altered the pH of the surrounding medium (apoplast). Using pH indicator paper appressed against the leaf, immediately after peeling, initial apoplastic pH was estimated to be 4.5. Changes in the apoplastic pH were measured with a microelectrode placed into a 100-microliter drop of an unbuffered solution (2 millimolar KCl, 0.5 millimolar CaCl₂, and 200 millimolar mannitol) on the peeled surface. Discs acidified the medium until the pH stabilized at about 5.0 (about 10 minutes). Acidification was inhibited by 50 micromolar sodium vanadate, an inhibitor of the plasmalemma H⁺-ATPase and attenuated by omitting the osmoticum or potassium ions from the medium. Fusicoccin (10 micromolar) greatly enhanced the rate of acidification. The presence of 0.1 to 1 micromolar gibberellic acid resulted in a slower rate of medium acidification. Gibberellic acid appeared to modulate the activity of the H⁺-translocating ATPase located at the plasma membrane of the mesophyll cells.     

Analysis of cell wall material from plant tissues: Extraction and purification

The alcohol-insoluble residue (AIR) of immature and mature runner beans contains co-precipitated cytoplasmic proteins, nucleic acids, starch and polyphenols, which contaminate the isolated polysaccharide fractions and their binding is sufficiently tenacious to resist complete extraction with the usual protein solubilizing reagents. Therefore, a method was developed for preparation of “cell wall material” from plant tissues in which the contamination with cytoplasmic constituents was minimal. Alternative solvents for cell disruption and protein extraction have been compared. The method depended for its success on the selective removal of the contaminants from fresh ball-milled tissue by sequential treatments with 1% aq. Na deoxycholate, PhOH-HOAc-H₂O followed by α-amylase digestion. Ball-milling the tissue ensured almost complete rupture of the cells and organelles and allowed the solvents to penetrate the sample fully and dissolve the cytoplasmic constituents. The purified “cell wall material” has protein contents varying from 2.5 to 5.5% depending on the type and maturity of the tissue. The residual proteins are resistant to pronase, rich in hydroxyproline and have the amino acid composition of purified cell wall proteins, showing that the wall preparations are relatively pure.     

Ozone tolerance in snap bean is associated with elevated ascorbic acid in the leaf apoplast

Ascorbic acid (AA) in the leaf apoplast has the potential to limit ozone injury by participating in reactions that detoxify ozone and reactive oxygen intermediates and thus prevent plasma membrane damage. Genotypes of snap bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L) were compared in controlled environments and in open-top field chambers to assess the relationship between extracellular AA content and ozone tolerance. Vacuum infiltration methods were employed to separate leaf AA into extracellular and intracellular fractions. For plants grown in controlled environments at low ozone concentration (4 nmol mol⁻¹ ozone), leaf apoplast AA was significantly higher in tolerant genotypes (300–400 nmol g⁻¹ FW) compared with sensitive genotypes (approximately 50 nmol g⁻¹ FW), evidence that ozone tolerance is associated with elevated extracellular AA. For the open top chamber study, plants were grown in pots under charcoal-filtered air (CF) conditions and then either maintained under CF conditions (29 nmol mol⁻¹ ozone) or exposed to elevated ozone (67 nmol mol⁻¹ ozone). Following an 8-day treatment period, leaf apoplast AA was in the range of 100–190 nmol g⁻¹ FW for all genotypes, but no relationship was observed between apoplast AA content and ozone tolerance. The contrasting results in the two studies demonstrated a potential limitation in the interpretation of extracellular AA data. Apoplast AA levels presumably reflect the steady-state condition between supply from the cytoplasm and utilization within the cell wall. The capacity to detoxify ozone in the extracellular space may be underestimated under elevated ozone conditions where the dynamics of AA supply and utilization are not adequately represented by a steady-state measurement.     

Regulation of Water Deficit-Induced Abscisic Acid Accumulation by Apoplastic Ascorbic Acid in Maize Seedlings

Water deficit-induced abscisic acid （ABA） accumulation is one of the most important stress signaling pathways in plant cells. Redox regulation of cellular signaling has currently attracted particular attention, but much less is known about its roles and mechanisms in plant signaling. Herein, we report that water deficit-induced ABA accumulation could be regulated by ascorbic acid （AA）-controlled redox status in leave apoplast. The AA content in non-stressed leaves was approximately 3 umol/g FW, corresponding to a mean concentration of 3 mmol/L in a whole cell. Because AA is mainly localized in the cytosol and chloroplasts, the volume of which is much smaller than that of the whole cell, AA content in cytosolic and chloroplast compartments should be much higher than 3 mmol/L. Water deficit-induced ABA accumulation in both leaf and root tissues of maize seedlings was significantly inhibited by AA and reduced glutathione （GSH） at concentrations of 500 umol/L and was completely blocked by 50 mmol/L AA and GSH. These results suggest that the AA-induced inhibition of ABA accumulation should not occur at sites where AA exists in high concentrations. Although water deficit led to a small increase in the dehydroascorbic acid （DHA） content, no significant changes in AA content were observed in either leaf or root tissues. When compared with the whole leaf cell, the AA content in the apoplastic compartment was much lower （i.e. approximately 70 nmol/g FW, corresponding to 0.7 mmol/L）. Water deficit induced a significant decrease （approximately 2.5-fold） in the AA content and an increase （approximately 3.4-fold） in the DHA content in the apoplastic compartment, thus leading to a considerably decreased redox status there, which may have contributed to the relief of AA-induced inhibition of ABA accumulation, alternatively, promoting water deficit-induced ABA accumulation. Reactive oxygen species （ROS） could not mimic water deficit in inducing ABA accumulation, suggesting that the inhibition of ABA accumulation by AA or GSH was not related to their ROS-scavenging ability. The results of the present study suggest that the redox status in the apoplastic compartment, as determined by AA and DHA, may play a vital role in the regulation of the signaling process for water deficit-induced ABA accumulation.