Effect of temperature on drought resistance and growth of cotton plants

In cotton plants ( Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. B.J.A.) the temperature of the roots affected both root and shoot growth, as did the temperature of the shoot. Drought resistance increased when the temperature imposed on roots (27°C) was lower than that imposed on shoots (17°C); the result was a decrease in both transpiration and flow of root sap. Stomatal characteristics as measured by density, index and resistance, depended only on shoot temperature. Differences in drought resistance, depended only on shoot temperature. Differences in drought resistance seem to be a result of changes in transpiration flow modulated by the amount of absorbed water.     

干旱胁迫与施氮对麻疯树幼苗渗透调节物质积累的影响

采用盆栽控水的方法,研究干旱胁迫(80％ FC、60％ FC、40％ FC和20％ FC)及施氮(N0 0 g·pot-1、N1 1.2 g·pot1、Nm3.6 g·pot-1和Nh6.0 g·pot-1)对麻疯树幼苗叶、茎和根部主要渗透调节物质积累的影响.结果表明:干旱胁迫条件下,麻疯树幼苗茎和根部的游离脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白和茎部可溶性糖大量积累,叶片中脯氨酸含量也随干旱胁迫程度的增加大幅度上升;Na+、Ca2+和Mg2+在麻疯树幼苗叶、茎和根中大量积累,而K+仅在茎中大量积累,叶片和根部K+含量略微上升.施氮对植株渗透调节物质的影响与干旱胁迫强度和施氮水平有关.在80％ FC和60％ FC水分条件下,增加N肥施用量能明显促进麻疯树幼苗各组分渗透调节物质的积累;在40％ FC水分条件下,Nh处理对渗透调节物质积累的促进作用减弱;而在20％ FC条件下,N1处理植株的渗透调节能力较高,Nm和Nh处理对植株渗透调节的促进作用不明显甚至转为抑制.     

An ABA-mimicking ligand that reduces water loss and promotes drought resistance in plants

Abscisic acid (ABA) is the most important hormone for plants to resist drought and other abiotic stresses. ABA binds directly to the PYR/PYL family of ABA receptors, resulting in inhibition of type 2C phosphatases (PP2C) and activation of downstream ABA signaling. It is envisioned that intervention of ABA signaling by small molecules could help plants to overcome abiotic stresses such as drought, cold and soil salinity. However, chemical instability and rapid catabolism by plant enzymes limit the practical application of ABA itself. Here we report the identification of a small molecule ABA mimic (AM1) that acts as a potent activator of multiple members of the family of ABA receptors. In Arabidopsis, AM1 activates a gene network that is highly similar to that induced by ABA. Treatments with AM1 inhibit seed germination, prevent leaf water loss, and promote drought resistance. We solved the crystal structure of AM1 in complex with the PYL2 ABA receptor and the HAB1 PP2C, which revealed that AM1 mediates a gate-latch-lock interacting network, a structural feature that is conserved in the ABA-bound receptor/PP2C complex. Together, these results demonstrate that a single small molecule ABA mimic can activate multiple ABA receptors and protect plants from water loss and drought stress. Moreover, the AM1 complex crystal structure provides a structural basis for designing the next generation of ABA-mimicking small molecules.     

Salt and drought tolerance of sugarcane under iso-osmotic salt and water stress: growth,osmolytes accumulation,and antioxidant defense

In order to discriminate between the ionic and osmotic components of salt stress, sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L. cv. Co 86032) plants were treated with salt-NaCl or polyethylene glycol-PEG 8000 solutions (?0.7 MPa) for 15 days. Both the salt and PEG treatments significantly reduced leaf width, number of green leaves, and chlorophyll stability index. Osmotic adjustment (OA) indicated that both the stresses led to significant accumulation of osmolytes and sugars. Salt stressed plants appeared to use salt as an osmoticum while the PEG stressed plants showed an accumulation of sugars. Oxidative damage to membranes was not severe in plants subjected to salt or PEG stress. The salt stressed plants showed an increase in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), while PEG stress led to an increase in SOD but not APX activity as compared to the control. Thus, results indicate that the iso-osmotic salt or PEG stress led to differential responses in plants especially with respect to growth, OA, and antioxidant enzyme activities.     

抗旱性不同的小麦幼苗对水分和NaCl胁迫的反应

分别测定抗旱小麦的８１３９（Ｔｒｉｔｉｃｕｍ ａｅｓｔｉｖｕｍ Ｌ．ｃｖ．８１３９）和干旱敏感品种甘麦８号（Ｔ．ａｅｓｔｉｖｕｍ Ｌ．ｃｖ．Ｇａｎｍａｉ Ｎｏ．８）在２０％ＰＥＧ６０００和１．２％ＮａＣｌ胁迫下的生长、光合作用、蒸腾作用及抗氧化保护系统的变化。结果表明,抗旱小麦８１３９对ＰＥＧ６０００有较强的抗性,但对ＮａＣｌ胁迫的抗性较差。ＮａＣｌ胁迫下,两种小麦根的生长均受到严重抑制,而在ＰＥ     

Effects of osmolytes on solvent features of water in aqueous solutions

The solvatochromic solvent features of water (dipolarity/polarizability, π*, hydrogen bond donor acidity, α, and hydrogen bond acceptor basicity, β) of water have been determined in aqueous solutions of erythritol, glucose, inositol, sarcosine, xylitol and urea with concentrations from 0 to ~3 M and higher. The concentration effects of the osmolytes on the solvent features of water were characterized and compared with those reported previously for sorbitol, sucrose, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and trehalose. The solvent features of water in solutions of all osmolytes except TMAO and sarcosine were established to be linearly interrelated. It is shown that the concentration effects of essentially all nonionic osmolytes depend on osmolytes’ lipophilicity, molecular polarizability, and polar surface area. It is demonstrated that solubility of various compounds in aqueous solutions of glucose, sucrose, sorbitol, and urea of varied concentrations may be described in terms of solvent dipolarity/polarizability of water in these solutions. Surface tension of aqueous solutions of sucrose and sorbitol may also be described in the same terms. The relative permittivity of aqueous solutions of glucose and sucrose may be described in terms of the solvent hydrogen bond donor acidity of water. It is suggested that the effects of nonionic osmolytes on behavior of proteins and nucleic acids in aqueous media may be considered in terms of the altered solvent features of water instead of “nano-molecular crowding” effect.     

木本植物水力结构与抗旱性

着重介绍了水力结构及其种种上参数（即导水率Ｋｈ、比导率Ｋｓ、叶比导率ＬＳＣ、胡伯尔值Ｈｖ以及水溶量Ｃ）的生理意义,树木和其它木本植物的水力结构格局以及树木水力结构研究的发展趋势,并试图从机理上阐述树木力结构和抗旱性之间的关系。     

Further studies of drought resistance in woody plants

This publication is an extension of the 1956 review of drought resistance in woody plants. The more important recently used terms are listed and defined. Summaries of reports of drought effects on forest trees are presented in tabular form. Frost-drought is discussed as an important factor in the limitation of woody plants’ geographical ranges. The role that droughts play in the initiation of tree diseases is considered, especially in the light of new evidence from studies of diebacks-declines of forest trees. Interactions between soil moisture and transpiration are discussed as well as ways to control transpiration in large stands. Also considered are drought experiments with tree seedlings and symptomatology of drought injury. The means by which woody plants survive drought (excluding ephemerals) are discussed.     

Effects of water stress on the organic Acid and carbohydrate compositions of cotton plants

Two photoperiodic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) strains (T185 and T466) which had been empirically selected because of poor performance and two strains (T25 and T256) selected because of enhanced performance under field water stress were evaluated for stress-induced changes in their organic acids and carbohydrates. Profiles and quantitation of organic acids and carbohydrates from aqueous extractions of cotton leaf tissue were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. In all cases, the water-stressed plants showed two to five times greater amounts of organic acids and carbohydrates over the values determined for the irrigated samples. Under stress, sucrose accumulation was observed in wilting strains (poor performers) probably related to rate of translocation out of the leaf. The most dramatic response to water stress was the accumulation of citric acid in strains T25 and T256 as compared to T185 and T466. Citric/malic acid ratios for both the irrigated and water-stressed samples of T25 and T256 were twice those of T185 and T466.     

盐和水分预处理对扶芳藤幼苗抗寒性的影响

测定了扶芳藤新品种‘红脉’经不同方式预处理后对幼苗抗寒性的影响,测定了膜脂过氧化水平、保护酶活性和渗透调节物质含量的变化。结果表明,与对照低温胁迫相比,0.1和0.3mol/L NaCl溶液预处理后再经低温胁迫处理,扶芳藤幼苗的膜脂过氧化水平较低、保护酶活性高、渗透调节物质含量的累积较多,不同浓度的NaCl溶液预处理比不同浓度的PEG溶液预处理对提高扶芳藤的抗寒性更有效。通过实验证明了植物在不同的逆境中确实存在着交叉适应现象,植物对各种逆境胁迫有着许多相同的生理反应,对各种胁迫的适应性存在某些共同的机制。     

Effects of silicon on Zea mays plants exposed to water and oxygen deficiency

Effects of shoot and root supplementation with silicon on the response of Zea mays L. plants to matric water potential (Ψ_m) and oxygen deficiency (waterlogging) stresses were studied. The soil water limitation (Ψ_m) and oxygen deprivation significantly reduced shoot dry weight, chlorophyll (Chl) content, ascorbic acid content, as well as leaf relative water content. Both soil drying and waterlogging caused a significant increase in the leaf membrane injury by heat (51°C) and dehydration (40% PEG) stresses. The levels of lipid peroxidation (POL) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content were increased by excess soil drying and oxygen deficiency. Supplementary silicon at 1.0 mM significantly increased Chl content and improved water status. Concentrations of H₂O₂, MDA, and proline and leaf membrane injury were significantly reduced by Si application. The reverse helds true for ascorbic acid. The results of this study indicate that application of silicon might improve growth attributes, effectively mitigate the adverse effect of drought and waterlogging, and increase tolerance of maize plants. The silicon-induced improvement of drought and anoxia tolerance was associated with the increase in oxidative defense abilities.     

两种药用植物生长和水分利用效率对干旱胁迫的响应

以田间持水量的30%、50%和75%为3个水分处理梯度,研究了决明子和菘蓝2种药用植物在不同水分处理和生长阶段的生长特性,并对稳定碳同位素分辨率(Δ¹³C)和水分利用效率(WUE)特征及二者之间的关系进行了分析．结果表明：与田间持水量的50%和30%相比,决明子和菘蓝在田间持水量75%的条件下具有较高的生长指标,说明这2种植物在充足或适当的水分条件下具有较高的生产力.随干旱胁迫程度的增加,决明子和菘蓝地上生物量和总生物量的Δ¹³C均逐渐减小,而地上生物量和总生物量的WUE均逐渐增加.决明子和菘蓝在不同水分处理之间各指标差异较小,说明这2种药用植物对干旱胁迫反应不敏感．菘蓝WUE与地上生物量和总生物量均呈显著负相关,决明子WUE与根冠比呈显著正相关.     

Patterns of pinitol accumulation in soybean plants and relationships to drought tolerance

Previous studies indicate that methylated cyclitols are potentially important osmolytes in plants. In a search for genetic diversity for pinitol (D -3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol) accumulation in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), two- to three-fold differences in pinitol accumulation in leaf blades were found among Chinese plant introductions. Furthermore, it was found that genotypes that accumulated high concentrations of pinitol, when grown under well-watered conditions, had been selected for performance in regions of China having low rainfall. Among the carbohydrates analysed, pinitol accumulation was uniquely associated with adaptation to dry areas of China. A detailed study of pinitol accumulation in the soybean plant showed two- to three-fold gradients in pinitol concentration from the bottom to the top of the plant. The gradient shifted during plant development, with consistently higher concentrations of pinitol in the uppermost leaves. Pinitol accumulation was not correlated with activity of the key biosynthetic enzyme, inositol methyl transferase. This result and other lines of evidence indicated that shifting patterns of pinitol accumulation were due to translocation of the cyclitol from lower to upper nodes. Pinitol, proline, and sugars accumulated in leaf blades on soybean plants subjected to drought, but the molar concentration of pinitol in stressed plants was greater than the concentrations of proline or sugars. Although the mechanism by which pinitol participates in drought tolerance is not fully known, our results provide additional correlative evidence linking pinitol and drought tolerance in soybean.     

Circadian rhythm of heat resistance in cotton seedlings: synthesis of heat-shock proteins.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Deltapine 50) seedlings grown under light-dark cycles of 12:12 h at 33 degrees C showed rhythmic changes in their resistance to heat shock of 53 degrees C for 40 min. The resistance was maximal at the middle of the light period and declined toward the end of the light period. One more peak of resistance developed in the middle of the dark period and declined toward the end of the dark period. Rhythmic changes in heat resistance persisted under continuous light for 3 cycles, indicating a circadian control. Under continuous light only one phase of resistance developed, lasting from the middle of the subjective night to the middle of the subjective day. The major heat shock proteins (HSPs) synthesized upon 30-min exposure to 40 degrees C, 49 degrees C or 53 degrees C were of 115, 89, 73, and 19 kDa. Their rate of synthesis depended on the inducing temperature, on previous exposure to high temperature and on the time in the light-dark cycle. The time dependency of the induction of certain HSPs persisted under continuous light, indicating a circadian control. No positive correlations was found between the rhythmic changes in heat resistance and the rhythmic changes in the synthesis of any HSP.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal influence on leaf water potential, solute accumulation, and oxidative stress in soybean plants subjected to drought stress

This study investigated several aspects related to drought tolerance in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) soybean plants. The investigation included both shoot and root tissues in order to reveal the preferred target tissue for AM effects against drought stress. Non-AM and AM soybean plants were grown under well-watered or drought-stressed conditions, and leaf water status, solute accumulation, oxidative damage to lipids, and other parameters were determined. Results showed that AM plants were protected against drought, as shown by their significantly higher shoot-biomass production. The leaf water potential was also higher in stressed AM plants (-1.9 MPa) than in non-AM plants (-2.5 MPa). The AM roots had accumulated more proline than non-AM roots, while the opposite was observed in shoots. Lipid peroxides were 55% lower in shoots of droughted AM plants than in droughted non-AM plants. Since there was no correlation between the lower oxidative damage to lipids in AM plants and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, it seems that first the AM symbiosis enhanced osmotic adjustment in roots, which could contribute to maintaining a water potential gradient favourable to the water entrance from soil into the roots. This enabled higher leaf water potential in AM plants during drought and kept the plants protected against oxidative stress, and these cumulative effects increased the plant tolerance to drought.