Salicylic acid-induced salinity tolerance in corn grown under NaCl stress

Effects of salicylic acid on some physiological and biochemical characteristics of maize ( Zea mays L.) seedlings under NaCl stress were studied. Pre-soaking treatments of NaCl (0, 50, 100 and 200 mM) were given to maize seeds in the presence as well as in the absence of 0.5 mM salicylic acid. Two-week-old maize seedlings exhibited significant decrease in dry weight, root length, shoot length and leaf area on 6 h exposure of 100 and 200 mM NaCl stress. Photosynthetic pigments and NR activity in leaves decreased sharply with increasing stress levels. Both proline content and lipid peroxidation (measured in terms of MDA) levels increased significantly under saline conditions. However, seedlings pretreated with 0.5 mM salicylic acid along with the salinity levels showed enhancement in growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, NR activity while, free proline and MDA levels decreased. The results showed that salt-induced deleterious effects in maize seedlings were significantly encountered by the pretreatment of salicylic acid. It is concluded that 0.5 mM salicylic acid improves the adaptabilities of maize plants to NaCl stress.     

The induction of systemic resistance in barley to powdery mildew infection using salicylates and various phenolic acids

Treatment of the first leaves of barley seedlings with either 5, 10, 15 or 20 mM salicylic acid, sodium salicylate or acetylsalicylic acid resulted in significant reductions in powdery mildew infection on the upper, second leaves. In general, the greatest reduction in mildew infection on the second leaves was obtained by spraying the first leaves with a 15 mM concentration of the compounds. Although the largest reduction in mildew infection of the upper leaves was obtained when the compounds were applied to the first leaves 1–2 days before inoculation, very substantial reductions in infection were still obtained if the first leaves were treated 12 days before inoculation. The three compounds had little direct effect on mildew infection. When ¹⁴C-salicylic acid was fed to first leaves of barley seedlings, uptake was rapid and increased with time. Within 6 h, 0.2% of the salicylic acid appeared in the second leaf and by 24 h after feeding, this had increased to 1.4% (1.1 μmol salicylic acid g^-1 fresh wt). The application of various phenolic acids to first leaves also led to reductions in mildew infection on the second leaves. In particular, treatment of the first leaves with 1 mM vanillic acid, isovanillic acid or syringic acid, reduced mildew infection of the second leaves by 81–87%.     

Combined effect of 24-epibrassinolide and salicylic acid mitigates lead (Pb) toxicity by modulating various metabolites in <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis> L. seedlings

The present study demonstrated the combined effect of 24-epibrassinolide and salicylic acid against lead (Pb, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 mM) toxicity in Brassica juncea seedlings. Various parameters including water status, metal uptake, total water- and lipid-soluble antioxidants, metal chelator content (total thiols, protein-bound thiols, and non-protein-bound thiols), phenolic compounds (flavonoids, anthocyanins, and polyphenols), and organic acids were studied in 10-day-old seedlings. Dry matter content and the heavy metal tolerance index were reduced by 42.24 and 52.3%, respectively, in response to Pb treatment. Metal uptake, metal-chelating compounds, phenolic compounds, and organic acids were increased in Pb-treated seedlings as compared to control plants. The treatment of Pb-stressed seedlings with combination of EBL and SA resulted in enhancement of heavy metal tolerance index by 40.07%, water content by 1.84%, and relative water content by 23.45%. The total water- and lipid-soluble antioxidants were enhanced by 21.01 and 2.21%, respectively. In contrast, a significant decline in dry weight, metal uptake, thiol, and polyphenol contents was observed following the application of 24-epibrassinolide and salicylic acid. These observations indicate that Pb treatment has an adverse effect on B. juncea seedlings. However, co-application of 24-epibrassinolide and salicylic acid mitigates the negative effects of Pb, by lowering Pb metal uptake and enhancing the heavy metal tolerance index, water content, relative water content, antioxidative capacities, phenolic content, and organic acid levels.     

Interactive effects of gibberellin A<Subscript>3</Subscript> and ascorbic acid on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis> seedlings under nickel stress

The effects of nickel in combination with ascorbic acid (AsA) and gibberellin on 7-day-old soybean seedlings were examined. Exposure to 0.25 mM NiCl₂ × 6H₂O for 5 days resulted in toxicity symptoms, such as formation of reddish-brown mottled spots on the leaf blade. Addition of 0.05 mM GA₃ or 1 mM AsA reduced toxic effects of nickel. After their simultaneous application, these symptoms did not appear. Ni decreased dry weights of roots and shoots and reduced chlorophyll content in leaves. An enhanced level of lipoxygenase activity and malondialdehyde, and changes in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase, in both roots and leaves indicated that Ni caused an oxidative stress in soybean plants. The Ni-stressed seedlings exposed to AsA or GA₃, especially to GA₃ plus AsA, exhibited an improved growth as compared to Ni-treated plants. GA₃ decreased Ni uptake by roots, while ascorbic acid considerably reduced root-to-shoot translocation of Ni. Interaction of AsA plus GA₃ prevented the decrease in chlorophyll content and lipid peroxidation as well as increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes. These results suggest that GA₃ plus AsA treatment counteracts the negative effects of Ni on soybean seedlings. Published in Russian in Fiziologiya Rastenii, 2007, Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 85–91. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Comparative Effects of Benzoic Acid and Water Stress on Wheat Seedlings

In the present study, we compared the effects of allelochemical, water stress (WS) and their combinations on seedling growth, biochemical parameters and responses of antioxidative enzymes in Triticum aestivum L. The wheat seedlings were treated with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mM concentrations of benzoic acid (BA), with and without water stress. Leaf water status, photosynthetic pigments, protein content, amount of proline and activities of nitrate reductase and antioxidant enzymes were examined. Allelopathic stress resulted in reduction of seedling height. Height of water stressed seedlings greatly decreased. The combined treatments, BA + WS further decreased the seedling height. BA treatment with and without water stress caused significant reduction in dry weight of the seedlings. BA and water stress decreased relative water content, pigments and protein content. Total soluble sugar content and nitrate reductase activity were variedly affected under all treatments. Proline content and lipid peroxidation increased in treatments with BA and water stress. Activity of superoxide dismutase increased significantly (P < 0.05) while catalase activity decreased in all treatments. Ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase activities were higher as compared with catalase which seems to protect wheat seedlings from oxidative stress. Water stress elevated the toxic effect of allelochemical.     

Salicylic acid induced physiological and biochemical changes in wheat seedlings under water stress

Salicylic acid (SA) is an important signal molecule modulating plantresponses to stress. It is recently reported to induce multiple stresstolerancein plants including drought. An experiment was, therefore, conducted toascertain the effect of salicylic acid on the growth and metabolic profile ofwheat seedlings under water stress. Irrespective of the SA concentration(1–3 mM) and water stress, SA treated plants showed, ingeneral, a higher moisture content, dry mass, carboxylase activity of Rubisco,superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and total chlorophyll compared to those ofuntreated seedlings. SA treatment, under water stress, protected nitratereductase (NR) activity and maintained, especially at 3 mM SAconcentration, the protein and nitrogen content of leaves compared to watersufficient seedlings. Results signify the role of SA in regulating the droughtresponse of plants and suggest that SA could be used as a potential growthregulator, for improving plant growth under water stress.     

Effects of nickel on Frankia and its symbiosis with Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn

The tolerance of nickel by Frankia in culture and in symbiosis with Alnus was determined. Yield of three Frankia strains was not affected significantly by 2.25 mM nickel when cultured in propionate medium containing hydolysed casein as nitrogen source. Yield of two strains in medium without combined nitrogen, and thus reliant on fixed nitrogen, was stimulated markedly by the same nickel concentration. Utilisation of nickel for synthesis of uptake hydrogenases is presumed to be the cause of enhanced nitrogenase activity.Although growth was reduced, treatment of 2-month-old seedlings with 0.025 mM nickel for 4 weeks did not affect nodulation significantly while nitrogenase activity was doubled. Nodulation and nitrogenase activity of seedlings receiving 0.075 mM nickel were inhibited markedly, while 0.5 mM nickel was lethal to all seedlings after 4 weeks of treatment. A few small, ineffective nodules were initiated early on some of the latter seedlings, suggesting that effects of nickel on host plant processes rather than Frankia are the primary cause of inhibition of nodulation. This interpretation is supported by the retention of substantial nitrogenase activity in 10-month-old plants 1 day after the treatment with 0.59 mM nickel, when the nickel content of roots and nodules was already maximal. No nitrogenase activity was detected after 3 days, by which time the leaves were almost completely necrotic. Over a 4 day period, most nickel was retained in the roots and nodules. Supplying histidine simultaneously at concentrations equal to, or in excess of, nickel prevented wilting and leaf necrosis, but did not increase translocation of nickel to the shoot.     

Effects of salicylic acid on post-ischaemic ventricular function and purine efflux in isolated mouse hearts.

Acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. Various plasma concentrations of aspirin and its predominant metabolite, salicylic acid, are required for its antiarthritic (1.5-2.5 mM), anti-inflammatory (0.5-5.0 mM) or antiplatelet (0.18-0.36 mM) actions. A recent study demonstrated the inhibitory effects of both aspirin and salicylic acid on oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis in isolated rat cardiac mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner (0-10 mM concentration range). In this context, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of salicylic acid on inosine efflux (a potential biomarker of acute cardiac ischaemia) as well as cardiac contractile function in the isolated mouse heart following 20 min of zero-flow global ischaemia. Inosine efflux was found at significantly higher concentrations in ischaemic hearts perfused with Krebs buffer fortified with 1.0 mM salicylic acid compared with those without salicylic acid (12575+/-3319 vs. 1437+/-348 ng ml(-1) min(-1), mean+/-SEM, n=6 per group, p<0.01). These results indicate that 1.0 mM salicylic acid potentiates 8.8-fold ATP nucleotide purine catabolism into its metabolites (e.g. inosine, hypoxanthine). Salicylic acid (0.1 or 1.0 mM) did not appreciably inhibit purine nucleoside phosphorylase (the enzyme converts inosine to hypoxanthine) suggesting the augmented inosine efflux was due to the salicylic acid effect on upstream elements of cellular respiration. Whereas post-ischaemic cardiac function was further depressed by 1.0 mM salicylic acid, perfusion with 0.1 mM salicylic acid led to a remarkable functional improvement despite moderately increased inosine efflux (2.7-fold). We conclude that inosine is a sensitive biomarker for detecting cardiac ischaemia and salicylic acid-induced effects on cellular respiration. However, the inosine efflux level appears to be a poor predictor of the individual post-ischaemic cardiac functional recovery in this ex vivo model.     

Competition effects on wiregrass (Aristida beyrichana) growth and survival

We investigated neighboring plant effects (competition and facilitation)on wiregrass establishment in two frequently encountered restoration situationsof former longleaf pine-wiregrass habitats in the Southeastern United States:longleaf pine plantations and previously cultivated fields. In the plantationexperiment, we specifically examined canopy removal, neighboring wiregrassdensity, and aboveground and belowground effects on establishment and growth ofwiregrass seedlings at two different ages (3 weeks and 6 months) with 3competitive exclusion treatments (aboveground exclusion, belowground exclusion,or no exclusion). Competition treatment effects were age-dependent forsurvivorship and growth. Survival of 6 month old seedlings was unaffected bycompetition treatment; whereas, three week old seedling survival was greatestwhere roots were excluded. Seedling size increased with root exclusion for 6month seedlings, but not for 3 week old seedlings in plots lacking neighboringwiregrass. Where wiregrass was present, both 3 week and 6 month old seedlingsincreased growth with root exclusion. Furthermore, where neighboring wiregrassplants were absent, increasing canopy density resulted in decreased seedlingsize, but did not affect survivorship. In old fields, fertilizer treatments andweeding effects were also assessed using 3 week and 6 month old seedlings.Fertilizer application did not benefit seedling survival or growth and reducedsurvivorship of 3 week old seedlings. Seedlings were smaller where neighboringold field, weedy vegetation was present regardless of wiregrass seedling age;whereas, survival was dependent on seedling age at time of planting. Six monthold seedling survivorship remained high regardless of weeding treatment. It isstill unclear whether fertilizer application is beneficial to the successfulestablishment of wiregrass.     

Combined embryotoxic action of toluene, a widely used industrial chemical, and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

CFY rats were exposed to inhalation of fresh air at days 10-13 of gestation; at day 12 the dams were given 0, 125, 250, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) by gavage. During the same period of gestation (days 10-13) further groups of rats were exposed to toluene at 1,000, 2,000, and 3,600 mg/m3 atmospheric concentration and were given 250 mg/kg ASA by gavage; two subgroups of animals treated with 250 mg/kg ASA in combination with 3,600 mg/m3 toluene inhalation were given 0, 2.5, or 5 gm/kg glycine 2 hours before the ASA dose. At day 21 the animals were killed and examined for teratogenic effects and histological changes. After 48 hours toluene exposure other groups of rats were treated with ASA or with ASA plus glycine (administered 2 hours earlier) on day 20 of gestation. These animals were killed 2 hours later and the salicylic acid concentration in maternal and embryonic plasma and in amniotic fluid was measured by gas chromatography. With the rising ASA doses both maternal toxicity (increased mortality, decreased food consumption, and weight gain) and embryonic toxicity (postimplantation loss, increased incidence of weight-retarded fetuses, increased minor anomalies and malformations, decreased average weight of fetuses) increased. Toluene was found to potentiate the toxic effect of ASA and to increase both maternal and embryonic toxicity. The type of ASA-induced minor anomalies and malformations was also found to be altered under the effect of toluene pretreatment. By raising the toluene concentration the salicylic acid level in the maternal and embryonic plasma and in the amniotic fluid was increased above the expected concentration. The mechanism of the potentiating interaction should be looked for in the depletion of the glycine pool by toluene (and its metabolites) and in the resultant increase of salicylic acid level. Increasing ASA embryotoxicity caused by toluene can be warded off by glycine administration.     

Treatment with acetyl salicylic acid protects muskmelon seedlings against drought stress

Salicylic acid (SA) is a common plant-produced signal molecule that is responsible for inducing tolerance to a number of biotic and abiotic stresses. An experiment was, therefore, conducted to test whether acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) application at various concentrations through seed soaking or foliar spray would protect muskmelon [Cucumis melo L. (reticulatus group)] seedlings, subjected to drought stress. Twenty-three-day-old plants pre-treated with ASA (0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.50 or 1.0 mM) were subjected to drought stress for 1 week in a greenhouse. ASA applied either through seed soaking or through foliar spray was effective within the range of 0.1–1 mM in providing drought stress protection in muskmelon seedlings; however, there was no difference between application methods indicating that both methods provided similar levels of protection. ASA significantly affected all seedling growth and stress indicator variables measured except leaf number and root dry weight. The best protection appeared to be obtained from seedlings pre-treated with lower concentrations of ASA. Even though both methods provided similar means of protection, due to its simplicity and practicality, soaking muskmelon seeds prior to sowing in up to 0.5 mM ASA would be a more desirable method.     

Effects of salicylic acid on post-ischaemic ventricular function and purine efflux in isolated mouse hearts

Abstract

Acetyl salicylic acid (aspirin) is one of the most widely used drugs in the world. Various plasma concentrations of aspirin and its predominant metabolite, salicylic acid, are required for its antiarthritic (1.5–2.5 mM), anti-inflammatory (0.5–5.0 mM) or antiplatelet (0.18–0.36 mM) actions. A recent study demonstrated the inhibitory effects of both aspirin and salicylic acid on oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis in isolated rat cardiac mitochondria in a dose-dependent manner (0–10 mM concentration range). In this context, the present study was conducted to determine the effects of salicylic acid on inosine efflux (a potential biomarker of acute cardiac ischaemia) as well as cardiac contractile function in the isolated mouse heart following 20 min of zero-flow global ischaemia. Inosine efflux was found at significantly higher concentrations in ischaemic hearts perfused with Krebs buffer fortified with 1.0 mM salicylic acid compared with those without salicylic acid (12575±3319 vs. 1437±348 ng ml^?1 min^?1, mean±SEM, n=6 per group, p<0.01). These results indicate that 1.0 mM salicylic acid potentiates 8.8-fold ATP nucleotide purine catabolism into its metabolites (e.g. inosine, hypoxanthine). Salicylic acid (0.1 or 1.0 mM) did not appreciably inhibit purine nucleoside phosphorylase (the enzyme converts inosine to hypoxanthine) suggesting the augmented inosine efflux was due to the salicylic acid effect on upstream elements of cellular respiration. Whereas post-ischaemic cardiac function was further depressed by 1.0 mM salicylic acid, perfusion with 0.1 mM salicylic acid led to a remarkable functional improvement despite moderately increased inosine efflux (2.7-fold). We conclude that inosine is a sensitive biomarker for detecting cardiac ischaemia and salicylic acid-induced effects on cellular respiration. However, the inosine efflux level appears to be a poor predictor of the individual post-ischaemic cardiac functional recovery in this ex vivo model.     

外源水杨酸改善Cd胁迫下路易斯安娜鸢尾的生长和养分吸收

采用Hoagland溶液培养,研究了外源水杨酸(SA)预处理对镉(Cd)胁迫下路易斯安娜鸢尾生物量、含水量、光合作用、根系活力、Cd积累、矿质养分吸收和抗氧化酶活性的影响.结果表明： Cd胁迫下,SA预处理的植株根叶干质量、根系活力和净光合速率提高.与单独Cd处理相比,SA预处理后的胁迫植株Cd含量无明显变化,而叶片N、P、S含量显著提高,K含量显著下降,根部抗氧化酶活性显著提高.表明SA预处理可明显缓解路易斯安娜鸢尾的Cd伤害,其原因不在于减少Cd吸收量而是提高了对Cd的抗性,矿质元素的吸收积累调节和根部抗氧化酶活性的提高是其毒害缓解的重要原因.     

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.     

Antagonistic effect of magnesium chloride on the nickel chloride-induced inhibition of DNA replication in Chinese hamster ovary cells

The degree of inhibition of semiconservative DNA replication induced by nickel chloride (NiCl2) was analyzed by radiolabeled-thymidine incorporation alone or with cesium chloride (CsCl) density gradient centrifugation. The onset and duration of this Ni2+-induced inhibition was time- and concentration-dependent, but the degree of inhibition was not. A maximal reduction in the rate of DNA synthesis was observed within the first hour of treatment with 2.5 mM NiCl2, which was the highest noncytotoxic concentration utilized. After six hours, 500 microM and 1 mM as well as 2.5 mM NiCl2 all produced the same 50% to 60% reduction in [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA. The inhibitory effect of nickel ions on DNA synthesis was reversible. The rate of DNA synthesis following a 500 microM or 1 mM NiCl2 treatment began to increase after washout of nickel, but a six-hour exposure of cells to 2.5 mM NiCl2 produced a sustained 50% to 60% suppression of DNA synthetic activity for at least 36 hours. At all concentrations of NiCl2 used in this study, some inhibition of DNA synthesis persisted for at least 48 hours, but by 72 hours after treatment, the rate of [3H]-thymidine incorporation was actually 10% above the control. Examination of autoradiographic slides of cells treated with 2.5 mM NiCl2 for six hours demonstrated a 60% reduction of silver grains, but there was no preferential reduction in the quantity of grains in the nucleolus or any other region. Cesium chloride density gradient analysis of the replication of nucleolar DNA in cells treated with 2.5 mM nickel supported the autoradiographic findings. The inhibitory effect of NiCl2 on DNA replication was prevented by the addition of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) to cells maintained in a simple salts/glucose medium (SGM). This effect did not appear to be due to an antagonism of the cellular uptake of nickel by Mg2+, since the maximally effective dose of Mg2+ reduced 63Ni2+ uptake by no more than 25% while the inhibition of replication was completely reversed.     

Effect of phenolic acids on anthocyanin content in maize roots

Supply of 0.01 to 5.0 mM salicylic, caffeic and gallic acids, either during imbibition of seeds for 24 to 48 h or during seedling growth increased anthocyanin production in maize (Zea mays L. cv. Ganga safed-2) roots. While tyrosine had no effect, phenylalanine either in the presence or absence of the phenolic acids increased anthocyanin content. Glucose in a concentration range of 1 to 20 mM and shikimic acid in 0.01 to 5.0 mM range also increased pigment level, which was higher in the presence of salicylic acid than in it.s absence. The experiments demonstrate the possibility of some indirect effects of salicylic acid and other phenolic acids on anthocyanin synthesis.     

Proteomic analysis on salicylic acid-induced salt tolerance in common wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum L.)

The influence of salicylic acid (SA) on the salt tolerance mechanism in seedlings of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was investigated using physiological measurements combined with global expression profiling (proteomics). In the present study, 0.5mM SA significantly reduced NaCl-induced growth inhibition in wheat seedlings, manifesting as increased fresh weights, dry weights, and photosynthetic pigments, but decreased lipid peroxidation. Two-week-old wheat seedlings treated with 0.5mM SA, 250mM NaCl and 250mM NaCl+0.5mM SA for 3days were used for the proteomic analyses. In total, 39 proteins differentially regulated by both salt and SA were revealed by 2D PAGE, and 38 proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. The identified proteins were involved in various cellular responses and metabolic processes including signal transduction, stress defense, energy, metabolism, photosynthesis, and others of unknown function. All protein spots involved in signal transduction and the defense response were significantly upregulated by SA under salt stress, suggesting that these proteins could play a role in the SA-induced salt resistance in wheat seedlings.     

Effect of salicylic acid on nitrate reductase activity in maize seedlings

The effect of different concentrations of salicylic acid on total Kjeldahl nitrogen and nitrate reductase activity in the maize ( Zea mays L.) seedling was studied. The total nitrogen of the maize embryonic axis (root + shoot) from seedlings raised with 10 m M Ca(NO₃)₂ for 5 days was substantially higher than that from the control when 0.01 m M salicylic acid was supplied. As supply of high (1 m M ) concentrations of salicylic acid decreased the accumulation of organic nitrogen. The in vivo activity of nitrate reductase in the roots increased at low concentrations of salicylic acid, while high concentrations were inhibitory. The stimulative concentration of the acid protected in vivo loss of nitrate reductase activity under non-inducing conditions, whereas it had no effect on in vitro loss of enzyme. It is suggested that salicylic acid increases in vivo enzyme activity indirectly, to some extent by protecting the natural inactivation of the enzyme.     

EFFECTS OF SINGLE AND MULTIPLE EXPOSURES OF FERULIC ACID ON THE VEGETATIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE GROWTH OF PHASEOLUS VULGARIS BBL-290

Phaseolus vulgaris BBL-290 plants were grown in growth chambers in the Southeastern Plant Environment Laboratory and exposed to either single (at seedling, flower, or podfill) or multiple (biweekly or weekly) treatments of ferulic acid (FA). In the first experiment, plants were harvested one week after FA treatment (0, 1.0, 2.0 mM) and at final harvest (56 days old). FA delayed leaf expansion during the seedling and flowering stages. The total plant leaf area and the plant dry weight of plants treated with 1.0 and 2.0 mM FA as seedlings were reduced one week after treatment by 38–48%. The total plant leaf area and the plant dry weight of plants treated at flowering with 2.0 mM FA were reduced by 25% one week after treatment. Treatment with 2.0 mM FA at podfill caused the senescence and abscission of older leaves and reduced total plant leaf area, plant dry weight and mean pod dry weight by 54, 40, and 48%, respectively, one week after treatment. The plants treated at the seedling and flowering stages recovered by final harvest. In a subsequent experiment, FA (0, 0.50, 1.0, 1.5 mM) reduced total plant leaf area at the seedling and flowering stages but not at podfill. The youngest expanding leaves were most sensitive to FA at flowering. The leaf area of these leaves was reduced by 35 and 25%, one and two weeks after treatment, respectively. Their absolute growth rates were reduced from 31 to 56% one week after treatment at flowering. Their relative growth rates were reduced by 50% one week after treatment. Growth rates then recovered within two weeks after treatment. In the final experiment, biweekly exposures of FA (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0) reduced total plant leaf area but did not affect any other growth parameters. Weekly exposures of FA (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0) reduced total plant leaf area up to 34%, absolute growth rate up to 58%, leaf number up to 31% and pod number up to 58%. As the frequency of exposure to FA increased, the concentration necessary to affect bean plant growth and development decreased.     

Early growth invigoration of jack pine seedlings by natural plant growth regulators

 Survival of conifer transplants is often poor on exposed planting sites in the boreal forest. More than one-third of all conifers do not become established. To enhance the competitive ability of jack pine seedlings, seeds were treated with natural plant growth regulators (PGRs; viz., homobrassinolide, salicylic acid, and two polyamines, spermine and spermidine) and growth promotion was studied for 16 days. Homobrassinolide (5 ng l^–1), salicylic acid (100 μg l^–1) and spermine (10 μg l^–1) enhanced elongation growth and elongation rate of whole plant. Homobrassinolide (5 ng l^–1) and salicylic acid (100 μg l^–1) stimulated root elongation by 38% and 10% respectively while spermine (1000 μg l^–1) increased needle growth by 14%. Homobrassinolide stimulated dry weight growth and growth rate. Homobrassinolide recorded over 20% increase in dry matter production, apportioned equally to root and needles, whereas spermine enhanced total dry matter production by almost 10%, mostly by increasing needle weight. Homobrassinolide facilitated nearly 19% increase in growth rate while spermine recorded only a 7% growth promotion. Spermidine inhibited both elongation and dry weight growth at all concentrations. Growth promotion by homobrassinolide, salicylic acid and spermine may be through an acceleration of processes connected to cell elongation, cell division and C allocation and these PGRs showed most promise for the early invigoration and improvement of jack pine seedling growth. Received: 27 August 1997 / Accepted: 8 January 1998