Effects of Cytokinin Preparations on the Pools of Pigments and Proteins of Wheat Cultivars Differing in Their Tolerance to Water Stress

Contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, soluble leaf proteins, and the key enzyme of carbon metabolism—ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO; EC 4.1.1.39)—in young seedlings and adult leaves of the wheat Triticum aestivum L. cultivars Mironovskaya 808 and Lyutescens 758, contrasting in their water stress tolerances, were compared under conditions of normal available water supply, water deficiency, and subsequent rehydration. It was discovered that compounds displaying a cytokinin activity (6-benzylaminopurine, thidiazuron, kartolin-2, and kartolin-4) reduced the decreases in contents of chlorophylls, carotenoids, soluble leaf proteins, and RuBisCO, progressing with development of water stress, as well as contributed to their more rapid recovery. These compounds with cytokinin activity also accelerated restoration of the compounds studied to their initial concentrations during rehydration. The kartolin preparations caused a maximal protective effect. Water stress had a more pronounced negative effect on the cultivar Lyutescens 758. Dehydration resulted in a more extensive destruction of seedlings compared to leaves of adult plants.     

水分胁迫对冬小麦CO_2同化作用的影响

比较了两个小麦品种陕合6号和郑引1号经受不同程度的水分胁迫处理后,叶片多种光合参数:净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、细胞间隙CO_2浓度(G_i)、表观量子需要量和羧化效率以及Rubis CO蛋白量与活性等的变化。在轻度水分胁迫下,叶片光合速率降低的根本原因在于气孔导度的下降;而在严重胁迫下,非气孔因素起主要作用。     

Effects of Growth Temperature on the Thermal Stability of the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Atriplex lentiformis (Torr.) Wats

High growth temperatures induced a substantial increase in the thermal stability of the photosynthetic apparatus of Atriplex lentiformis. This was manifested as a much reduced inhibition of light-saturated photosynthesis and the initial slope of the light-dependence curves by exposure to high temperatures in high as compared to moderate temperature-grown plants. Heat treatment at 46 C of leaves from moderate temperature-grown plants resulted in a marked reduction in photosystem II activities of chloroplasts isolated from them. In contrast, heat treatment of leaves from high temperature-grown plants resulted in no reduction of photosystem II activities. In vivo estimates of photosystem II functioning, the 515 nm light-induced absorbance change, and the ratio initial to maximum fluorescence (F₀/F_max) indicated a similar increase in the thermal stability of photosystem II in high temperature-grown plants.     

Photosynthetic Parameters at the Vegetative Stage and during Grain Development of Two Hexaploid Wheat Cultivars Differing in Salt Tolerance

Response of two spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, salt tolerant SARC-I and salt sensitive Potohar, to different concentrations of NaCl was examined under glasshouse conditions. Eighteen-day-old plants of both the lines grown in sand culture were irrigated with 0 (control), 80, 160 or 240 mM NaCl in full strength Hoagland's nutrient solution. Shoot fresh and dry masses, and leaf area per plant of SARC-I at the vegetative stage, were significantly greater than those of cv. Potohar at higher salt concentrations, however, relative growth rate (RGR) of cv. Potohar was significantly higher than that of SARC-I. SARC-I had higher net photosynthetic rate (P_N), stomatal conductance (g_s) and transpiration rate (E) than cv. Potohar at the vegetative stage, but the cultivars did not differ significantly in water-use efficiency (P_N/E), intrinsic water use efficiency (P_N/g_s), and intercellular/ambient CO₂ concentration ratio. At the grain development stage, SARC-I had significantly higher P_N and g_s in the flag leaf than cv. Potohar under salinity. SARC-I was superior to cv. Potohar with respect to number of grains per spike, number of grains per spikelet, mean grain mass, and grain yield per plant at all NaCl concentrations.     

Interactive Effects of Sulphur Dioxide and Mineral Nutrient Supply on Photosynthetic Characteristics and Yield in Four Wheat Cultivars

Field experiments were conducted on four cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to examine the variability in cultivar response to sulphur dioxide (SO₂) under different concentrations of mineral nutrients. Thirty-days-old plants were exposed for 8 weeks to 390±20 µg m^–3 (0.15 ppm) SO₂ for 4 h per day, 5 d per week. Decline in net photosynthetic rate, contents of pigments and nitrogen, biomass and grain yield of each cultivars were due to SO₂ at all the nutrient concentrations studied. However, the magnitude of reduction was higher in plants grown without nutrient application. On the basis of the reductions in photosynthesis and yield, the susceptibility of wheat cultivars to SO₂ was in the order of Malviya 213 > Malviya 37 > Malviya 206 > Malviya 234 at recommended dose of NPK, whereas the same without the nutrients was Malviya 206 > Malviya 234 > Malviya 213 > Malviya 37.     

The Pattern of Changes in Photosynthetic Apparatus in Response to Cold Acclimation and De-acclimation in Two Contrasting Cultivars of Oilseed Rape

In spring and winter cultivars of oilseed rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera), acclimation of photosynthetic apparatus to cold was connected with the increase in activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) and sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS). Conversely, cold de-acclimation entailed the decline of RuBPCO and SPS activities. The rate of this photosynthetic de-acclimation might depend on day temperature. On the other hand, temperature rise during de-acclimation (identical during the day and night) resulted in the improvement of photosynthetic activity measured by means of chlorophyll fluorescence. An increase in SPS activity (and even transitory increase in RuBPCO activity) was observed when the elongation growth rate (EGR) accelerated during de-acclimation. Throughout re-acclimation, plants with high EGR were unable to maintain or recover higher photosynthetic capacity, despite the fact that SPS activity remained high or even increased during re-acclimation.     

Effects of Continuous SO2 Fumigation on SH-containing Compounds in Two Wheat Cultivars of Different Sensitivities

Two cultivars (Mec and Chiarano) of wheat (Triticum aestivum)were exposed to constant low levels of SO₂ (35, 75 and 120 nll^–1) over a period of 4 months. In previous studies Mechas been shown to be more sensitive to SO₂ and this has beenconfirmed in the present study where Mec showed a greater tendencythan Chiarano to accumulate soluble non-protein SH compounds,principally glutathione and cysteine. The reduced glutathione to oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG)increased significantly in Mec with SO₂ treatment, but no changein the activity of glutathione reductase was observed. Key words: Wheat, SO₂ fumigation, SH-compounds     

Coronatine Alleviates Water Deficiency Stress on Winter Wheat Seedlings

With the aim to determine whether coronatine(COR) alleviates drought stress on wheat,two winter wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars,ChangWu134(drought-tolerant) and Shan253(drought-sensitive) were studied under hydroponic conditions.Seedlings at the three-leaf stage were cultured in a Hoagland solution containing COR at 0.1 μM for 24 h,and then exposed to 20% polyethylene glycol 6000(PEG6000).Under simulated drought(SD),COR increased the dry weight of shoots and roots of the two cultivars significantly;the root/shoot ratio also increased by 30% for Shan253 and 40% for ChangWu134.Both cultivars treated with COR under SD(0.1COR+PEG) maintained significantly higher relative water content,photosynthesis,transpiration,intercellular concentration of CO2 and stomatal conductance in leaves than those not treated with PEG.Under drought,COR significantly decreased the relative conductivity and malondialdehyde production,and the loss of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity in leaves was significantly alleviated in COR-treated plants.The activity of peroxidase,catalase,glutathione reductase and ascorbate peroxidase were adversely affected by drought.Leaves of plants treated with COR under drought produced less abscisic acid(ABA) than those not treated.Thus,COR might alleviate drought effects on wheat by reducing active oxygen species production,activating antioxidant enzymes and changing the ABA level.     

Cultivars of Hexaploid Wheat of Contrasting Stature and Chlorophyll Retention Differ in Cytokinin Content and Responsiveness

The work reported here compared cytokinin content and sensitivityin a selection of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivarsusing the following measurements: leaf cytokinins at three timepoints during light-growth and at four 24 h intervals afterlight-grown plants were transferred to darkness; sensitivityof root growth to direct applications of isopentenyl adenosine([9R]iP); and, sensitivity of germination and subsequent rootand shoot growth to 18 h imbibition of seeds in benzyladenine(BA). Accumulation of zeatin riboside-type cultivars was greatestduring light-growth in Tibet Dwarf, a wheat with an extremedwarf phenotype, intermediate in Omar standard and dwarf cultivars,and lowest in the standard and dwarf versions of Itana. Cytokininlevels were otherwise not directly correlated to plant staturein these wheats. There were no cultivar-associated qualitativedifferences in the types of cytokinins detected in this study.During the 16 h light period, the content of zeatin riboside-typecytokinins increased up to tenfold and then declined to basallevels during dark growth. Chlorophyll retention during dark-growthwas correlated with leaf cytokinin content. Data collected ata restricted number of sampling points during dark-growth suggesteda cyclic accumulation of [9R]iP-type cytokinins and the apparentcycle in Tibet Dwarf was offset by 24 h. Tibet Dwarf showedthe greatest root growth inhibition after exposure of seedlingroots to [9R]iP or imbibition of seeds in BA. Neither of thesetreatments affected shoot growth in any of the cultivars. Wheat; Triticum aestivum ; cytokinin; zeatin riboside; benzyladenine; root inhibition     

Temperature Effects on Cytokinin Accumulation and Kernel Mass in a Dwarf Wheat

The objectives of this study were: (1) to quantify post-anthesiskernel cytokinin levels in ‘Tibet Dwarf’, a dwarfwheat (Triticum aestivumL.) that accumulates elevated quantitiesof leaf cytokinins; and (2) to measure the effects of temperatureon kernel cytokinin accumulation and mature kernel mass in thiswheat. Post-anthesis kernel cytokinin accumulation was measuredin control plants maintained at 25/12 °C (day/night) andtreated plants which received a 7 d exposure to 35/25 °Cbeginning at anthesis and grown to maturity at 25/15 °C.Zeatin (Z), dihydrozeatin (diHZ) and their respective ribosideswere the predominant cytokinins detected in control and treatedplants. Minimal quantities of isopentenyl adenine-type cytokininswere detected. Kernel cytokinin content peaked within 3 d afteranthesis in both groups and returned to baseline levels within1–2 d. Relative to controls, exposure to high temperaturereduced kernel cytokinin content approx. 80% within 1 d afteranthesis. Because kernel cytokinin in control Tibet Dwarf plantsexceeded that previously measured in other varieties by over100-fold, the reduced content of treated plants still exceededthat of untreated plants of other varieties. The increased cytokinincontent did not enhance thermotolerance. The temperature treatmentreduced mature kernel weights approx. 27%, similar to reductionsmeasured in other wheat varieties.Copyright 1999 Annals of BotanyCompany Triticum aestivum, endosperm development, heat stress, kernel mass, cytokinins.     

Effects of External Potassium (K) Supply on Drought Tolerances of Two Contrasting Winter Wheat Cultivars

Background

Drought is a common stress limiting crops growth and productivities worldwide. Water deficit may increase cellular membrane permeability, resulting in K outflow. Internal K starvation may disorder plant metabolism and limit plant growth. However, it is seldom reported about the effects of external K on drought tolerance of contrasting wheat cultivars.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A hydroponics experiment was carried out in a non-controlled greenhouse. Seedlings of drought-tolerant SN16 and intolerant JM22 were simultaneously treated by five levels of K₂CO₃ (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 mM) and two levels of PEG6000 (0, 20%) for 7 days. External K₂CO₃ significantly increased shoot K⁺ content, water potential, chlorophyll content as well as gas exchange, but decreased electrolyte leakage (EL) and MDA content in both cultivars under PEG6000 stress. Antioxidant enzymes activities were up-regulated by PEG6000 while external K₂CO₃ reduced those changes. Molecular basis was explained by measuring the expression levels of antioxidant enzymes related genes. Shoot and root biomass were also increased by K₂CO₃ supply under drought stress. Although adequate K₂CO₃ application enhanced plant growth for both cultivars under drought stress, SN16 was better than JM22 due to its high drought tolerance.

Conclusions/Significance

Adequate external K may effectively protect winter wheat from drought injuries. We conclude that drought-tolerant wheat combined with adequate external K supply may be a promising strategy for better growth in arid and semi-arid regions.     

Canopy Apparent Photosynthetic Characteristics and Yield of Two Spike-Type Wheat Cultivars in Response to Row Spacing under High Plant Density

In northern China, large-spike wheat (Triticum aestivum L) is considered to have significant potential for increasing yields due to its greater single-plant productivity despite its lower percentage of effective tillers, and increasing the plant density is an effective means of achieving a higher grain yield. However, with increases in plant density, the amount of solar radiation intercepted by lower strata leaves is decreased and the rate of leaf senescence is accelerated. Row spacing can be manipulated to optimize the plant spatial distribution under high plant density, therefore improving light conditions within the canopy. Consequently, field experiments were conducted from 2010 to 2012 to investigate whether changes in row spacing under high plant density led to differences in canopy apparent photosynthesis (CAP), individual leaf photosynthesis and grain yield. Two different spike-type winter wheat cultivars, Jimai22 (a small-spike cultivar as a control cultivar) and Wennong6 (a large-spike cultivar), were grown at a constant plant density of 3,600,000 plants ha^–1 (a relatively higher plant density) over a wide range of row spacing as follows: 5-cm row spacing (R₀), 15-cm row spacing (R₁), 25-cm conventional row spacing (R₂), and 35-cm row spacing (R₃). The two-year investigations revealed that increased row spacing exhibited a significantly higher light transmission ratio (LT), which improved light conditions within the canopy; however, excessive light leakage losses in R₂ and R₃ treatments were not favorable to improved irradiation energy utilization efficiency. Aboveground biomass accumulation was influenced by row spacing. Two spike-type wheat accumulated greater biomass under 15-cm row spacing compared to other row spacing treatments, although a markedly improved photosynthetic rate (P_N), effective quantum yield of photosystem II (Φ_PSII) and maximal efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry (F_v/F_m) in the penultimate and third leaves were observed in R₂ and R₃ treatments. At the same time, a longer duration of CAP and green leaf area was maintained in R₁ during grain filling. Compared with conventional row spacing, Wennong6 in R₁ treatment obtained 21.0% and 19.1% higher grain yield in 2011 and 2012, respectively, while for Jimai22 it increased by 11.3% and 11.4%, respectively. A close association of yield with CAP and LAI at mid-grain filling was observed. In conclusion, for the tested growing conditions, decreasing the row spacing to an optimal distance (15 cm) maintained a longer duration of LAI and CAP during grain filling, made a better coordination of group and individual leaf photosynthesis, and accumulated higher aboveground biomass, leading to a greater grain yield. In addition, Wennong6 had a more rational canopy architecture than Jimai22 (improved LT and higher LAI) and CAP under 15-cm row spacing, leading to a higher grain yield, which indicated that the large-spike type cultivar has the potential to obtain higher yields by increasing plant density through optimum row spacing allocation (15 cm).     

The Sequence of Change within the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Wheat following Short-Term Exposure to Ozone

The basis of inhibition of photosynthesis by single acute O₃ exposures was investigated in vivo using analyses based on leaf gas exchange measurements. The fully expanded second leaves of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L. cv Avalon) were fumigated with either 200 or 400 nanomoles per mole O₃ for between 4 and 16 hours. This reduced significantly the light-saturated rate of CO₂ uptake and was accompanied by a parallel decrease in stomatal conductance. However, the stomatal limitation, estimated from the relationship between CO₂ uptake and the internal CO₂ concentration, only increased significantly during the first 8 hours of exposure to 400 nanomoles per mole O₃; no significant increase occurred for any of the other treatments. Analysis of the response of CO₂ uptake to the internal CO₂ concentration implied that the predominant factor responsible for the reduction in light-saturated CO₂ uptake was a decrease in the efficiency of carboxylation. This was 58 and 21% of the control value after 16 hours at 200 and 400 nanomoles per mole O₃, respectively. At saturating concentrations of CO₂, photosynthesis was inhibited by no more than 22% after 16 hours, indicating that the capacity for regeneration of ribulose bisphosphate was less susceptible to O₃. Ozone fumigations also had a less pronounced effect on light-limited photosynthesis. The maximum quantum yield of CO₂ uptake and the quantum yield of oxygen evolution showed no significant decline after 16 hours with 200 nanomoles per mole O₃, requiring 8 hours at 400 nanomoles per mole O₃ before a significant reduction occurred. The photochemical efficiency of photosystem II estimated from the ratio of variable to maximum chlorophyll fluorescence and the atrazine-binding capacity of isolated thylakoids demonstrated that photochemical reactions were not responsible for the initial inhibition of CO₂ uptake. The results suggest that the apparent carboxylation efficiency appears to be the initial cause of decline in photosynthesis in vivo following acute O₃ fumigation.     

水分胁迫对冬小麦光合特性及产量的影响

对不同水分条件下小麦叶片叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数及光合速率的变化进行了研究．结果表明,随着胁迫的加剧．其叶绿素含量降低,且叶绿素a的含量下降比叶绿素b的含量要快。住不同水分条件下,叶片叶绿素含量及光合速率随生育进程的变化趋势基本一致．拔节期到抽穗期迅速上升,灌浆期后迅速下降,且叶绿素含量与光合速率呈显著的正相关。在水分胁迫下旗叶的T12值减少．旗叶光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)原初光能转化效率(Fv／Fm)和潜在活性(Fv／Fo)降低．胁迫程度越大其值降低幅度越大,轻度胁迫与对照相比其值降低幅度小。而重度胁迫其值急剧下降,这些值的降低,导致了光合作用的潜在活力降低,影响了光合电子的传递和CO2同化的正常进行,最终导致产量降低。     

Ionic and Osmotic Effects of Salinity on Single-Leaf Photosynthesis in Two Wheat Cultivars with Different Drought Tolerance

The effects of iso-osmotic salinity and drought stresses on leaf net photosynthetic rate (P _N) in two wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars BR 8 and Norin 61, differing in drought tolerance, were compared. In drought-sensitive Norin 61, the decline of P _N was larger than that in drought-tolerant BR 8. Under NaCl treatment, P _N decreased in two phases similarly in both cultivars. In the first phase, photosynthetic depression was gradual without any photochemical changes. In the second phase, photosynthetic depression was rapid and accompanied with a decline of the energy conversion efficiency in photosystem 2 (_PS2). Our observations suggest that the osmotic factor may induce a gradual depression of photosynthesis due to stomatal closure under both stress treatments. However, under NaCl treatment, a ionic factor (uptake and accumulation of excess Na⁺) may have direct effects on electron transport and cause more severe photosynthetic depression. The drought tolerance mechanism of BR 8 was insufficient to maintain single-leaf photosynthesis under salinity.     

干旱胁迫对吉首蒲儿根光合机构的影响

为了探讨干旱胁迫对吉首蒲儿根光合机构的影响,通过大棚盆栽实验于7月测量了阴生环境中吉首蒲儿根的叶片相对含水量(RWC)、净光合速率(Pn)等光合作用气体交换参数及初始荧光(F0)等叶绿素荧光参数在土壤自然干旱过程中的变化。结果显示:(1)随着干旱处理时间的延长,吉首蒲儿根叶片相对含水量持续下降;于干旱处理第12天时,叶片相对含水量低于15%,且吉首蒲儿根植株已经死亡。(2)自然干旱处理下,吉首蒲儿根叶片Pn、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)大幅降低,胞间CO2浓度(Ci)增加或与对照接近;非气孔因素是导致其Pn下降的主要原因。(3)停止灌水第9~12天时,吉首蒲儿根叶片PSⅡ的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光量子效率[Y(Ⅱ)]显著降低,PSⅡ非调节性能量耗散[Y(NO)]显著增加,PSⅡ已损伤严重,叶片吸收的光能逐渐向非光化学途径分配增加。研究表明,在夏秋高温季节,吉首蒲儿根对土壤干旱较为敏感,其PSⅡ受到了一定的伤害,光能分配发生改变,严重影响其光合作用和生长发育,这可能是其分布受到限制的重要原因。     

Effects of Light intensity on Photosynthetic Characteristics of Wheat Seedling

The contents of pigments and chlorophyll-protein complexes, fluorescence characteristics and electron transport rate were compared for wheat seedlings grown under different light intensities. Leaves of wheat seedlings grown under low-light intensity (2 klx) had lower chlorophyll and carotenoid contents on leaf area or fresh weight basis, a lower ratio of chlorophyll a/b, lower CPIa and CPI contents in photosynthetic membranes than those of wheat seedlings grown under high-light intensity (20 klx). However, the LHCP content in photosynthetic membranes was higher in the former. The kinetic studies of fluorescence induction showed that wheat seedlings grown under low-light intensity possessed a bigger photosynthetic unit, lower PSⅡ activity and lower efficiency of primary energy conversion than those grown under high-light intensity. Moreover. lower electron transport rate was found in the chloroplasts of the former.     

Effects of Light and Nitrogen Nutrition on the Organization of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Spinach

Nitrogen budgets of fully expanded young leaves of Spinaciaoleracea L. grown under three growth irradiances at four nitrateconcentrations, were compared in relation to photosynthesis.The proportion of nitrogen allocated to thylakoid membraneswas 24% of total leaf nitrogen irrespective of the growth conditions.The composition of the photosynthetic components in thylakoidmembranes was affected by growth irradiance but unaffected bynitrogen levels. The proportion of total leaf nitrogen allocatedto soluble protein and RuBP carboxylase (RuBPCase) increasedwith the increases in nitrogen and in irradiance levels. Someultrastructural properties of chloroplasts and their intra-leafgradients were also compared. The results suggest that nitrogennutrition affects the amount of thyalkoids per unit leaf areabut neither the properties of thyalkoids nor their intra-leafgradient. Growth irradiance, however, controls both the propertiesand the amount of thylakoids. The ratio of in vitro RuBPCase activity to electron transport/photophosphorylationactivity increased with the increase in nitrogen level, butdecreased with the increase in growth irradiance. The changein the ratio of in vitro activities may serve to balance thein vivo activities, given that the in vivo efficiency of RuBPCasedeclines with the increase in volume of a chloroplast due tothe increased liquid phase resistance to CO₂ diffusion. ³Present address: Plant Environmental Biology Group, ResearchSchool of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University,P.O. Box 475, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601, Australia. (Received July 29, 1987; Accepted November 2, 1987)     

Effects of Water Stress and High-Temperature Stress on the Structure and Activity of Photosynthetic Apparatus of Zea Mays and Helianthus Annuus

Photosynthetica - Effects of high-temperature stress (HTS) and PEG-induced water stress (WS), applied separately or in combination, on the functional activity and ultrastructure of the...     

Effects of Water Stress and High-Temperature Stress on the Structure and Activity of Photosynthetic Apparatus of Zea Mays and Helianthus Annuus

Effects of high-temperature stress (HTS) and PEG-induced water stress (WS), applied separately or in combination, on the functional activity and ultrastructure of the photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) of maize (Zea mays L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants were investigated. In maize plant tissues WS provoked the decrease in RWC by 10.9 %, HTS by 7.0 %, and after simultaneous application of the both treatments the decrease was 32.7 % in comparison with control plants. Similar but more expressed changes were observed in sunflower plants. Sunflower was more sensitive to these stresses. Net photosynthetic rate decreased significantly after all treatments, more in sunflower. In mesophyll chloroplasts after separately applied WS and HTS the number of grana and thylakoids was reduced and electron-transparent spaces appeared. At combined stress (WS+HTS) granal and stromal thylakoids were considerably affected and chloroplast envelope in many of them was partially disrupted. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.