Heme oxygenase up-regulation under salt stress protects nitrogen metabolism in nodules of soybean plants

The behaviour of enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism, as well as oxidative stress generation and heme oxygenase gene and protein expression and activity, were analysed in soybean (Glycine max L.) nodules exposed to 50, 100 and 200 mM NaCl concentrations. A significant increase in lipid peroxidation was found with 100 and 200 mM salt treatments. Moreover, superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase activities were decreased under 100 and 200 mM salt. Nitrogenase activity and leghemeoglobin content were diminished and ammonium content increased only under 200 mM NaCl. At 100 mM NaCl, glutamine synthetase (GS) and NADH-glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activities were similar to controls, whereas a significant increase (64%) in NADH-glutamate synthase (GOGAT) activity was observed. GS activity did not change at 200 mM salt treatment, but GOGAT and GDH significantly decreased (40 and 50%, respectively). When gene and protein expression of GS and GOGAT were analysed, it was found that they were positively correlated with enzyme activities. In addition, heme oxygenase (HO) activity, protein synthesis and gene expression were significantly increased under 100 mM salt treatment. Our data demonstrated that the up-regulation of HO, as part of antioxidant defence system, could be protecting the soybean nodule nitrogen fixation and assimilation under saline stress conditions.     

Effect of salt stress on nodulation and nitrogen fixation in legumes

It is now well established that almost all phases of root nodule development in legumes are adversely affected by saline conditions in the rooting medium. There is also a general agreement that the rhizobia are more tolerant to salt stress than the host plant, but they show considerable strain variability in growth and survival under saline conditions. Inhibitory effect of salinity on nodulation has been attributed to decrease in rhizobial colonisation and shrinkage and lack of root hair formation. Salt stress also induces premature senescence of already formed nodules. Both N2-fixation activity and nodule respiration are inhibited sharply on exposure of plants to saline conditions. The decrease in N2-fixation has been ascribed to direct effect on nitrogenase activity or an indirect effect through decrease in leghemoglobin content, respiratory rate, malate concentrations in nodules and photosynthate availability. Salinity increases oxygen diffusion resistance in the nodules and alters their ultrastructure. Decrease in N2-fixation in nodules under salinity is also accompanied by parallel decrease in the activity of H2O2-scavenging enzymes like catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and the level of antioxidants like ascorbic acid. Nodules appear to undergo osmoregulation under saline conditions by accumulating physiologically compatible solutes like proline, sugars (pinnitol) and lactic acid. The intensity of the adverse effects of salinity on nodule functioning depends on plant species, rhizobial strain, duration of exposure to saline conditions, nature, concentration and mode of salt application.     

Agrobacterium rhizogenes transformed soybean roots differ in their nodulation and nitrogen fixation response to genistein and salt stress

We evaluated response differences of normal and transformed (so-called ‘hairy’) roots of soybean (Glycine max L. (Merr.), cv L17) to the Nod-factor inducing isoflavone genistein and salinity by quantifying growth, nodulation, nitrogen fixation and biochemical changes. Composite soybean plants were generated using Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of non-nodulating mutant nod139 (GmNFR5α minus) with complementing A. rhizogenes K599 carrying the wild-type GmNFR5α gene under control of the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter. We used genetic complementation for nodulation ability as only nodulated roots were scored. After hairy root emergence, primary roots were removed and composite plants were inoculated with Bradyrhizobium japonicum (strain CB1809) pre-induced with 10 μM genistein and watered with NaCl (0, 25, 50 and 100 mM). There were significant differences between hairy roots and natural roots in their responses to salt stress and genistein application. In addition, there were noticeable nodulation and nitrogen fixation differences. Composite plants had better growth, more root volume and chlorophyll as well as more nodules and higher nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) compared with natural roots. Decreased lipid peroxidation, proline accumulation and catalase/peroxidase activities were found in ‘hairy’ roots under salinity stress. Genistein significantly increased nodulation and nitrogen fixation and improved roots and shoot growth. Although genistein alleviated lipid peroxidation under salinity stress, it had no significant effect on the activity of antioxidant enzymes. In general, composite plants were more competitive in growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation than normal non-transgenic even under salinity stress conditions.     

Rootstocks improve cucumber photosynthesis through nitrogen metabolism regulation under salt stress

We examined the growth, photosynthetic parameters, initial and total ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activity, the relative expression of rbcL, rbcS, and rca gene, and nitrogen metabolism of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Jinchun No.2, CS) plants grafted onto figleaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia Bouché, CF) and pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata Duch. cv. Chaojiquanwang, CM) rootstocks. Growth inhibition under salt stress (90 mM NaCl) was characterized by the irreversible inhibition of CO₂ assimilation in the cucumber plants grafted onto cucumber rootstocks (CS/CS). In contrast, this effect was significantly alleviated by grafting the cucumber plants onto the CF and CM roots (CS/CF, CS/CM). Under NaCl stress, the CS/CF and CS/CM plants exhibited higher photosynthetic activity, higher initial and total Rubisco activity, and higher Rubisco-related gene expression than the CS/CS plants. Salinity resulted in a lesser increase in nitrate content and decrease in free amino acid content in the CS/CF and the CS/CM plants compared with the CS/CS plants. Accordingly, the activity of nitrate reductase, glutamine synthetase, and glutamate synthase decreased significantly, especially in the CS/CS plants. These results suggest that grafting cucumber plants onto salt-tolerant rootstocks enhances Rubisco activity and the expression of Rubisco-related genes by effectively accelerating nitrate transformation into amino acids under NaCl stress, thereby improving the photosynthetic performance of cucumber leaves.     

生物炭调控盐胁迫下水稻幼苗耐盐性能

土壤盐渍化降低土壤生产力.探索生物炭对盐胁迫下水稻幼苗耐盐性能的影响,对调控盐渍区水稻生产潜力具有重要意义.本研究通过生物炭介入盐胁迫稻田土壤的盆栽试验,调查了生物炭对盐胁迫下土壤环境和水稻幼苗耐盐性能的影响.盐胁迫设置4个水平,分别为0 g NaCl·kg-1土(S0),1 g NaCl·kg-1土(S1),2 g ...     

Temporal water stress effects on nodulation,nitrogen accumulation and growth of soybean

The objective of this study, carried out over 2 years, was to evaluate the effect of soil properties on the response of maize (Zea mays L.) to zinc applications and relate these properties to soil test Zn for predicting the Zn status of soils considering the effect of environmental conditions. The relative yield, expressed as an index of crop response, was related through multiple regression to CEC (or clay), electrical conductivity (or exchangeable Na), and bulk density consistently throughout the two year period that included one relatively wet, cool and cloudy growing season when variations in relative yield were explained also by 0.5M NaHCO₃-extractable-P and organic C. A procedure is presented to establish limits for the soil propeties and soil-test-extractable-Zn and to meaningfully combine them into a model to predict soil Zn status. A model that combined soil test Zn, texture and electrical conductivity was satisfactory for the purpose of prediction and for adoption for soil testing on a routine basis. The suggested approach may be suitable for designing models with soil properties associated with crop responses to micronutrients in other situations. Deceased 22 September 1988     

Transcriptional analyses of two soybean cultivars under salt stress

Molecular Biology Reports - Soybean is an economically important plant, and its production is affected in soils with high salinity levels. It is important to understand the adaptive mechanisms...     

Proteome analysis of soybean hypocotyl and root under salt stress

To evaluate the response of soybean to salt stress, the related changes in protein expression were investigated using the proteomic approach. Soybean plants were exposed to 0, 50, 100, and 200 mM NaCl. Especially at 200 mM, the length and fresh weight of the hypocotyl and root reduced under salt stress, while the proline content increased. Proteins from the hypocotyl and root treated with 100 mM NaCl were extracted and separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; 321 protein spots were detected. In response to salt stress, seven proteins were reproducibly found to be up- or down-regulated by two to sevenfold: late embryogenesis-abundant protein, beta-conglycinin, elicitor peptide three precursor, and basic/helix-loop-helix protein were up-regulated, while protease inhibitor, lectin, and stem 31-kDa glycoprotein precursor were down-regulated. These results indicate that salinity can change the expression level of some special proteins in the hypocotyl and root of soybean that may in turn play a role in the adaptation to saline conditions.     

大豆异黄酮浸种对盐胁迫大豆幼苗的生理效应

大豆异黄酮( Soybean isoflavones)是在大豆生长过程中形成并在成熟种子和叶片中积累较多的一类具有生物活性的次生代谢物,通常可作为人们日常生活中的一类营养保健品.研究了外源大豆苷或染料木苷溶液(0.01 mg/L)浸种处理对盐胁迫栽培大豆(N23674品种)和滩涂野大豆(BB52种群)及其经逐代耐盐性筛选的杂交后代(4076株系,F5)幼苗叶片伤害率、光合作用、Na+含量和Na+/K+值、活性氧清除酶活性及内源大豆异黄酮含量等生理指标的影响.结果表明:盐胁迫下,两种外源大豆异黄酮浸种处理均可显著抑制叶片相对电解质渗透率和硫代巴比妥酸反应物(TBARS)含量的上升及净光合速率(Pn)的下降,降低Na+含量和Na+/K+值,增强超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,提高内源大豆异黄酮含量,从而表现对盐害的缓解效应,其中对耐盐性较弱的栽培大豆N23674品种效应更明显.这为大豆异黄酮在大豆耐盐育种、化学调控和盐碱地种植利用等提供了理论依据.     

Effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid on nitrogen metabolism and ion distribution of watermelon seedlings under salt stress

The effects of foliar spray application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on the growth, nitrogen metabolism, and ion distribution of salt-stressed watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai) seedlings were investigated. Supplementation of the nutrient solution with 100 mM NaCl significantly reduced leaf and root biomass of watermelon plants. Foliar application of 1.25 mM ALA significantly alleviated the inhibition of plant growth under salt stress. Salinity induced significant accumulation of nitrate, ammonium, and soluble protein and a significant decrease in the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in watermelon plants. However, ALA significantly increased the activities of NR, GS, GOGAT, and GDH, but decreased the ammonium content and NiR activity. In addition, salt stress resulted in significant accumulation of Na⁺ and Cl^? in plants, but decreased the contents of K⁺ and Mg²⁺. Application of ALA alleviated the salt stress-induced ion toxicity, and increased the contents of K⁺ and Mg²⁺. ALA also increased soluble protein and proline contents in salt-stressed watermelon plants. These results indicated that application of ALA alleviated the accumulation of Na⁺ and Cl^? in salt-stressed watermelon plants, especially through regulating nitrogen metabolism and ion distribution, which were associated with an improvement in plant growth.     

盐胁迫下外源NO对苜蓿幼苗生长及氮代谢的影响

为探寻增强苜蓿耐盐能力的调控途径,以甘农4号苜蓿品种为材料,采用NO供体硝普钠、NO清除剂c-PTIO及硝普钠类似物亚铁氰化钠处理苜蓿幼苗,研究盐胁迫下外源NO对苜蓿幼苗生长、光合特征、氮同化酶活性和氮代谢物含量的影响.结果表明: 外源NO能明显缓解盐胁迫对苜蓿幼苗生长及光合作用的抑制,单株干质量、叶绿素含量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率和可溶性蛋白含量增加;外源NO能增强硝酸还原酶、谷氨酰胺合成酶和谷氨酸合酶活性,抑制蛋白水解酶和谷氨酸脱氢酶活性, 降低叶片中游离氨基酸含量,提高硝态氮含量,加快铵的同化.NO供体SNP的类似物亚铁氰化钠对盐胁迫下苜蓿幼苗生长及氮代谢无调控作用;施用NO清除剂c-PTIO加剧了盐胁迫对苜蓿幼苗生长和氮代谢的抑制,添加外源NO能缓解c-PTIO的抑制效应.盐胁迫下,外源NO和内源NO均参与了苜蓿幼苗氮代谢的调控.     

Proteome analysis of soybean leaves,hypocotyls and roots under salt stress

Background  

Salinity is one of the most widespread agricultural problems in arid and semi-arid regions that makes fields unproductive, and soil salinization is a serious problem in the entire world. To determine the effects of salt stress on soybean seedlings, a proteomic technique was used.     

缺磷条件下低分子量有机酸对大豆氮积累和结瘤固氮的影响

采用砂培方法在温室条件下研究了低分子量有机酸柠檬酸、草酸、苹果酸及3种酸的混合物对大豆植株氮素积累、结瘤和固氮的影响.结果表明：低分子量有机酸对大豆植株氮素积累有显著的抑制作用,使大豆地上部各时期氮素积累量的降低幅度分别为：苗期17.6%～44.9%,花期29.8%～88.4%,鼓粒期9.18%～69.6%,成熟期2.21%～41.7%;低分子量有机酸对大豆根瘤生长和固氮能力也有显著影响,表现为使根瘤数量、根瘤固氮酶活性和豆血红蛋白含量显著降低,降低幅度分别为11.4%～59.6%,80.5%～91.7%和11.9%～59.9%,从而使大豆的固氮效率降低,最终导致大豆的固氮量较对照显著降低(降低幅度9.71%～64.5%).低分子量有机酸对大豆氮积累、根瘤生长和固氮能力的抑制作用随浓度的增加而增加.3种有机酸中,草酸的抑制作用相对大于柠檬酸和苹果酸,3种有机酸混合后,抑制作用加强.     

Differential changes in galactolipid and phospholipid species in soybean leaves and roots under nitrogen deficiency and after nodulation

The availability of nitrogen (N) to plants has a profound impact on carbohydrate and protein metabolism, but little is known about its effect on membrane lipid species. This study examines the changes in galactolipid and phospholipid species in soybean as affected by the availability of N, either supplied to soil or obtained through Bradyrhizobium japonicum nodulation. When N was limited in soil, the content of galactolipids, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacyglycerol (DGDG), decreased drastically in leaves, while a smaller decrease of DGDG was observed in roots. In both leaves and roots, the overall content of different phospholipid classes was largely unchanged by N limitation, although some individual phospholipid molecular species did display significant changes. Nodulation with Bradyrhizobium of soybean grown in N-deficient soil resulted in a large increase in levels of plastidic lipid classes, MGDG, DGDG, and phosphatidylglycerol, along with smaller increases in non-plastidic phospholipids in leaves. Nodulation also led to higher levels of phospholipids in roots without changes in root levels of MGDG and DGDG. Overall, N availability alters lipid content more in leaves than roots and more in galactolipids than phospholipids. Increased N availability leads to increased galactolipid accumulation in leaves, regardless of whether N is supplied from the soil or symbiotic fixation.     

Shotgun proteomic analysis of soybean embryonic axes during germination under salt stress

Seed imbibition and radicle emergence are generally less affected by salinity in soybean than in other crop plants. In order to unveil the mechanisms underlying this remarkable salt tolerance of soybean at seed germination, a comparative label‐free shotgun proteomic analysis of embryonic axes exposed to salinity during germination sensu stricto (GSS) was conducted. The results revealed that the application of 100 and 200 mmol/L NaCl stress was accompanied by significant changes (>2‐fold, P<0.05) of 97 and 75 proteins, respectively. Most of these salt‐responsive proteins (70%) were classified into three major functional categories: disease/defense response, protein destination and storage and primary metabolism. The involvement of these proteins in salt tolerance of soybean was discussed, and some of them were suggested to be potential salt‐tolerant proteins. Furthermore, our results suggest that the cross‐protection against aldehydes, oxidative as well as osmotic stress, is the major adaptive response to salinity in soybean.     

Effect of nitric oxide signaling in bacterial-treated soybean plant under salt stress

To understand protective roles of nitric oxide against salt stress, the effects of exogenous sodium nitroprusside on activities of lipoxygenase, peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonialyase, catalase, superoxide dismutase enzymes, proline accumulation, and distribution of sodium in soybean plants under salt were determined. Application of sodium nitroprusside + bacterium enhanced plant growth-promotion characteristics, activities of different enzymes, and proline accumulation in the presence of sodium nitroprusside under salt stress. Treatment with NaCl at 200 mM and sodium nitroprusside (0.1 mM) reduced Na⁺ levels but increased K⁺ levels in leaves in comparison with the NaCl-treated plants. Correspondingly, the plants treated with exogenous sodium nitroprusside and NaCl maintained a lower ratio of [Na⁺]/[K⁺] in NaCl-stressed plants.     

A barley mutant with improved salt tolerance through ion homeostasis and ROS scavenging under salt stress

To investigate key regulatory components and genes with great impact on salt tolerance, near isogenic or mutant lines with distinct salinity tolerance are suitable genetic materials to simplify and dissect the complex genes networks. In this study, we evaluated responses of a barley mutant genotype (73-M4-30), in comparison with its wild-type background (Zarjou) under salt stress. Although the root growth of both genotypes was significantly decreased by exposure to sodium chloride (NaCl), the effect was greater in the wild type. The chlorophyll content decreased under salt stress for the wild type, but no change occurred in the mutant. The mutant maintained the steady-state level of [K⁺] and significantly lower [Na⁺] concentrations in roots and higher [K⁺]/[Na⁺] ratio in shoots under salt conditions. The catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) activity, and proline content were higher in the mutant than those in the wild type under controlled conditions. The soluble proline was higher after 24 h of salt stress in roots of the mutant but was higher after 96 h of salt stress in the wild type. The CAT and POD activity of the mutant increased under salt stress which was as a coincidence to lower levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. The ratio of dry-to-fresh weight of the roots increased for the mutant under salt stress which was as a result of the higher phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene expression and peroxidase activity and involved in cell wall lignification. Consequently, it seems that ion homeostasis and increased peroxidase activity have led to salt tolerance in the mutant’s genotype.