The Cyanide-resistant Respiration in Callus of Nicotiana rustica cv. Gansu Yellow Flower Under Low Temperature

The increasement of the operation (ρValt) and the capacity of the alternative pathway (Valt) in tobacco (Nicotiana rustica L. cv. Gansu Yellow Flower) callus that treated by low temperature (4 ℃) were observed. The two electron transport pathways were changed alternatively, the cyanide-resistant respiration was the main respiratory pathway from the 2nd day to the 5th day, while the cytochrome pathway was the main pathway consistently in control callus. Cycloheximide and chloramphenicol treatment which inhibited protein synthesis resulted in dramatic and partly inhibition of Valt induced by low temperature respectively. This further proved above result that low temperature induced Valt. The same result was found when two inhibitors were used together. The analysis of heat production of callus indicated that the operation of the alternative pathway could be regulated to improve the micro-environmental temperature of tobacco callus to adapt to low temperature. The possible participation of the alternative pathway in the response to low temperature and its physiological roles were discussed.