蔗糖对桃幼苗生长发育及其SnRK1酶活性的影响

以实生桃(Prunus persica)苗为试材, 探讨SnRK1对不同浓度蔗糖及处理时间的响应特性, 揭示蔗糖对植株生长发育的影响, 以期为果树生产提供理论依据及技术支持。结果表明, 施加5%蔗糖时, 植株体内SnRK1酶活性最高, 且在一定时间内, 酶活性持续升高; 与对照(清水和甘露醇)相比, 5%蔗糖处理显著提高植株可溶性糖、淀粉和叶片叶绿素含量, 增加植株地上部和地下部生物量, 显著加快植株净光合速率; 通过观察根系构型, 发现5%蔗糖可以显著增加根系总表面积、总体积和侧根数量, 并可促进根系加粗加长生长。qRT-PCR分析表明, 外源蔗糖能促进根系中生长素的合成和转运。综上, 一定浓度蔗糖可以提高植株体内SnRK1酶活性, 影响植株碳代谢, 促进植株生长发育, 且增加根系生长素的合成与转运, 进而影响根系构型。     

AM真菌对盐胁迫下番茄幼苗生理特征及AVP1表达的影响

采用温室盆栽试验研究不同NaCl浓度（0、50 和85 mmol/L）持续胁迫接种摩西球囊霉和地表球囊霉 2种AM真菌对加工番茄耐盐性的影响。结果显示:（1）在0 mmol/L NaCl处理条件下,2种菌的番茄菌根化苗的根系活力、叶片中可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白、根系脯氨酸含量以及超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶活性均高于非菌根植株,且丙二醛含量低于非菌根植株,但差异不显著。（2）在50、85 mmol/L NaCl浓度胁迫下,接种2种菌根真菌可显著提高番茄植株根系活力,促进叶片中可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白及根系脯氨酸含量的积累,显著提高叶片中与抗逆相关的超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶的活性,减少丙二醛在根系中的积累;随着NaCl浓度的增加,效果更为明显。（3）RT-PCR分析显示,AM真菌和盐胁迫共同调控H⁺转运无机焦磷酸酶H⁺- PPase的表达,随NaCl浓度的增加,AVP1基因表达量下降,但菌根化番茄植株的AVP1基因表达量显著高于非菌根植株。研究表明,接种AM真菌后,菌根化植株可通过显著促进幼苗体内渗透调节物质积累和抗氧化酶活性的提高,有效降低体内膜脂过氧化水平,同时过量表达AVP1基因增加了番茄植株中离子向液泡膜的转运,从而缓解盐胁迫对植株的伤害,增强番茄幼苗对盐胁迫的耐性。     

水杨酸对草莓SnRK1活性及植株生长的影响

本文以‘妙香7号’草莓(Fragaria×ananassa)为试验材料,分析其根系和叶中FaSnRK1s对水杨酸(SA)处理的响应特性,研究了SA对草莓SnRK1活性及植株生长的影响。结果表明,外源SA处理后根和叶中FaSnRK1s分别在0.5~1 h和1~2 h内表达量达到最高水平,随后均趋于下降至初始水平;较高浓度(80和100μmol·L~(-1))的SA处理后草莓功能叶及根系中SnRK1活性显著提高,且叶片净光合速率显著提高,可溶性糖和淀粉含量显著增加,盆栽草莓地上及地下部生长势明显增强。上述结果表明,SA处理短时间内提高了SnRK1各亚基编码基因的表达量,同时提高SnRK1活性,可能因此影响了植株的碳代谢,从而促进草莓植株的生长。     

马缨丹对铅的生理响应及铅在亚细胞中的分布特征

采用盆栽试验研究了不同浓度铅对马缨丹生长、抗氧化酶活性的影响,马缨丹对铅的吸收、转运,以及铅的亚细胞分布特征。结果表明:100 mg·kg~(-1)铅处理时,马缨丹全株干重达到本次试验的最大值,且显著高于对照,铅处理浓度高于600 mg·kg~(-1)时显著低于对照,植株生长受到抑制。铅处理浓度低于600 mg·kg~(-1)时,马缨丹体内抗氧化酶活性较高,能够缓解铅处理诱导的氧化胁迫;高于600 mg·kg~(-1)铅处理打破了马缨丹体内活性氧的产生与清除动态平衡,抗氧化酶活性降低,MDA含量和电解质渗漏率显著升高,引起严重的膜脂过氧化伤害。马缨丹体内铅含量随土壤浓度铅增加而逐渐增加,低于1200 mg·kg~(-1)铅处理下,根系中铅含量高于地上部,高于此浓度时则相反,表明低于1200 mg·kg~(-1)铅处理下,根系对铅有较强的固持能力,可限制铅向地上部的转运,减少对地上部的毒害;亚细胞分布研究表明,铅主要固定于根系和叶片的可溶性部分和细胞壁上,具有保护细胞器的分布特征。因此,马缨丹是一种铅耐性植物,其主要耐性机制是根系对铅的固持、可溶性部分和细胞壁对铅的区隔化以及抗氧化酶对活性氧物质的清除。     

芽孢杆菌ZJM-P5与磷肥互作对红小豆根系及产量的影响

为明确芽孢杆菌ZJM-P5与磷肥互作对红小豆根系发育和产量的影响,于2016和2017年以‘晋红5号’红小豆为材料,设置磷肥施用量[50(P_1)、100(P_2)、200(P_3)mg·kg~(-1)]和菌液浓度[10~6(A_1)、10~7(A_2)、10~8(A_3)、10~9(A_4)cfu·mL~(-1)]两因素复合处理,以菌磷皆不施为对照(CK),采用盆栽试验分析芽孢杆菌ZJM-P5与磷互作下红小豆幼苗根系形态、生理特性及产量的变化。结果表明:(1)各芽孢杆菌ZJM-P5与磷肥复合处理(磷菌互作)均显著提高了红小豆幼苗主根长、根面积、根体积(P0.05),幼苗主根长和根冠比均在P_1A_3处理下最高,分别比CK显著提高83.1%和50.9%,根面积和根体积均在P_2A_2处理下最高,分别比CK显著提高69.7%和54.2%。(2)各磷菌互作处理均显著提高了红小豆幼苗根系SOD活性、POD活性、根系活力和可溶性蛋白含量,且均在P_2A_2处理时达到峰值,并显著降低红小豆幼苗根系MDA和可溶性糖含量,且均在P_2A_2处理下达到最低值。(3)各磷菌互作处理均显著提高了红小豆幼苗植株P含量,并显著降低了根系酸性磷酸酶活性;随着施磷量增加,植株P含量逐渐增加,根系酸性磷酸酶活性逐渐降低;随着菌液浓度的增加,植株P含量和根系酸性磷酸酶活性均先升后降且均在A_2浓度下最高。(4)随着施磷水平或者菌液浓度的增加,红小豆百粒重和籽粒产量均呈先增大后减小的趋势;各磷菌互作处理均显著提高了红小豆百粒重和籽粒产量,且均在P_2A_2处理组合下增产效果最佳,比对照分别显著增长了141.60%和210.40%。研究发现,芽孢杆菌ZJM-P5与磷肥互作处理可通过改变红小豆幼苗根系构型、提高根系活力、改善根系生理机能来提高红小豆的籽粒产量,且在100 mg·kg~(-1)施磷量、10~7cfu·mL~(-1)菌液浓度互作下可达到最佳促生增产效果。     

根系浸泡生长素对橄榄幼苗生长及其叶绿素荧光特性的影响

以1～2片真叶的橄榄健康幼苗为试材,研究2种外源生长素吲哚丁酸(IBA)和萘乙酸(NAA)在不同浓度(100、300和500μmol/L)及不同处理时间(1、3和5 h)下对橄榄幼苗根系和地上部生长量的影响,并运用隶属函数法进行综合评价,对测定排名前5个处理的橄榄幼苗的叶绿素荧光特性进行分析,以探寻促进橄榄幼苗生长的最佳处理,为橄榄实生砧木苗繁育提供理论及技术依据。结果显示:(1)外源生长素能促进橄榄幼苗生长,改善根系构型,以低浓度处理和高浓度短时长的处理表现较好,能提高橄榄幼苗生长势。(2)隶属函数分析橄榄幼苗生长的综合效果排名前五的处理为:N3001N5001N1005N1001I3003,前4个均为NAA处理,平均隶属函数值均大于0.65,且对株高、茎粗、地上部生物量、总根长、总根表面积、主根长及侧根数的促进作用比IBA大。(3)叶绿素荧光特性显示,N1001处理的橄榄幼苗实际光化学量子效率Y_((Ⅱ))最高且比对照显著增加了8.16%,光合电子传递速率ETR最大,非光化学淬灭系数NPQ最低且比CK显著降低了23.78%(P0.05)。研究表明,N1001为促进橄榄幼苗生长的最佳处理,即选择100μmol/L外源生长素NAA处理橄榄实生砧木苗根系1 h,能显著促进植株生长,提高幼苗的光能利用率和光合能力。     

模拟氮沉降增加条件下土壤团聚体对酶活性的影响

氮沉降增加改变了森林土壤生态系统物质输入,影响土壤生物及酶活性,而土壤团聚体内相对稳定的微域生境可能减弱或延缓土壤生物和酶对氮沉降增加的响应强度。以广东省东莞大岭山森林公园荷木人工林为研究对象,用模拟N沉降方法,分析了2011年12月到2012年11月一年内氮沉降增加条件下表层混合土壤和土壤团聚体内脲酶、蔗糖酶和酸性磷酸酶活性的变化及影响因素,旨在理解氮沉降增加条件下土壤团聚体对酶活性的影响。结果表明:氮沉降增加对表层混合土壤中脲酶和蔗糖酶的抑制作用不显著,而酸性磷酸酶受氮沉降显著影响,表现为低氮(50 kg N hm-2a-1)促进,高氮(300 kg N hm-2a-1)抑制的规律。表层土壤团聚体内脲酶活性随氮沉降增加而降低,N300处理显著低于对照;蔗糖酶和酸性磷酸酶活性随氮沉降增加先降低后增加,N100处理最低,分别比其他处理降低了6.46%—25.53%和42.33%—68.25%。试验区内各粒径土壤团聚体内酶活性高于混合土壤,且随团聚体粒径增加酶活性均为先增加后降低。不同粒径土壤团聚体的3种酶活性均以2—5 mm最高,但脲酶、酸性磷酸酶在各团聚体粒径间差异不显著,蔗糖酶活性2—5 mm显著高于5—8 mm。土壤酶相对活性指数和相对活性综合指数结果显示,超过85%的团聚体粒径内的相对酶活性指数大于1,而土壤酶相对活性综合指数均大于1。以上结果表明,氮沉降增加条件下土壤团聚体对其团聚体内的土壤酶活性有隔离保护作用,但其隔离保护效果与酶的种类和土壤团聚体粒径有关。     

咖啡根系分泌物对嫁接后植株生长及叶片保护酶活性的影响

咖啡根系分泌物引起的自毒作用是造成咖啡连作障碍的主要原因,而种间嫁接是抑制咖啡自毒的有效方式。为探明嫁接抑制自毒机制,采用盆栽试验研究咖啡主栽品种根系分泌物对嫁接植株的化感效应。结果表明:根系分泌物抑制了咖啡自根苗生长,且随着根系分泌物浓度升高,抑制作用增强;低浓度根系分泌物能促进咖啡嫁接苗生长,经根系分泌物处理后的嫁接苗株高、根长、地上部干重和根干重分别较未处理的对照嫁接苗平均增加了22.15%、6.52%、44.80%和20.67%,根系活力、叶片保护酶活性也明显增加;高浓度根系分泌物虽未能促进嫁接苗生长,但嫁接苗较自根苗生长优势显著,经根系分泌物处理后嫁接苗POD、CAT和SOD活性分别较自根苗增加了60.61%、27.27%和18.24%,MDA含量显著减少,根系活力显著增加。因此,在根系分泌物处理下,嫁接苗能通过提高自身保护酶活性等方式,促进植株生长或使植株生长所受抑制减少。     

部分根系供磷对黄瓜根系和幼苗生长及根系酸性磷酸酶活性影响

通过分根处理研究了部分根系供磷对黄瓜幼苗生长、植株体内的含磷量及根系酸性磷酸酶活性的影响。结果表明 ,2 0 %根系缺磷 (1条根缺磷 ,4条根供磷 )可以促进根系及植株地上部的生长 ,其根系及地上部的生物量分别是正常生长植株的 1.39倍和 1.2 1倍。2 0 %根系缺磷 ,还可以促进其它供磷根系对磷的吸收。分根处理后 ,2 0 %根系缺磷不影响植物对磷营养的需要 ,但却表现出了R/S比增大的典型缺磷反应 ,说明植物感应缺磷根系起着比地上部更为重要的作用。分根处理后不供磷根系的酸性磷酸酶活性显著高于供磷根系的酸性磷酸酶活性 ,并且根系的酸性磷酸酶活性只与根系的含磷量显著相关 ,与地上部的磷营养状况关系不明显。这说明 ,缺磷条件下 ,黄瓜植株根系分泌酸性磷酸酶活性的增高 ,是黄瓜根系对低磷胁迫的适应性机理 ,而不是地上部改善体内磷营养的调控机理。     

微囊藻毒素对油菜幼苗生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响

以'秦优9号'油菜为材料,研究不同浓度藻毒素(MC)对油菜种子萌发和幼苗生长、叶绿素含量和抗氧化酶活性的影响,以及并对MC-LR和-RR在幼苗体内的积累进行分析.结果表明:仅5 000 ng/mL MC处理的油菜种子发芽率和发芽势显著低于对照和其余浓度处理,而其他处理及对照间无显著差异;在高浓度(1 000～5 000 ng/mL)MC处理下,幼苗出现植株矮化、叶片呈黄褐色、叶面积减小,以及主根变短、变粗且根系呈现黄褐色等毒害症状;叶绿素含量随着藻毒素浓度的递增表现为先上升后下降趋势;MC对SOD活性具有抑制作用,但对POD的活性具有促进作用,CAT活性随MC浓度的增加表现为先上升后下降的趋势;单位鲜重幼苗体内MC-LR和-RR含量随MC处理浓度的升高而增加,但MC-LR和-RR的积累率随MC浓度的增加而减小.研究发现,高浓度微囊藻毒素能显著抑制油菜幼苗生长,同时显著改变其体内保护酶活性,且MC可被油菜植株吸收并在其体内积累.     

Endogenous Auxin is Required but Supraoptimal for Rapid Growth of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Seminal Roots, and Auxin Inhibition of Rice Seminal Root Growth is Not Caused by Ethylene

The dual effects of auxin and ethylene on rice seminal root growth were investigated in this study. Low concentrations of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) had no effect on rice seminal root growth, whereas higher concentrations (≥0.003 μM) were inhibitory. In contrast, low concentrations of the auxin action inhibitor p-chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (PCIB), ranging from 0.5 to 50 μM, promoted rice seminal root growth, whereas high concentrations of PCIB (≥500 μM) and the polar auxin transport inhibitor 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) inhibited rice seminal root growth. These results suggest that endogenous auxin is required but supraoptimal for rapid growth of rice seminal roots. In addition, although rice seminal root growth was inhibited by the exogenous ethylene-releasing compound ethephon or the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) as well as exogenous IAA, the 50% inhibition of growth (I₅₀) caused by ethephon or ACC was weakened by certain concentrations of the ethylene action inhibitor Ag⁺ (0.016-0.4 μM). However, the I₅₀ caused by exogenous IAA was strengthened by Ag⁺ or the ethylene biosynthetic inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and weakened by certain concentrations of PCIB (0.5-50 μM). Together, the inhibitory mechanisms of auxin and ethylene on rice seminal root growth should be different, and auxin inhibition of rice seminal root growth should not be caused by ethylene. Furthermore, our results indicated that a certain threshold level of ethylene was required to maintain rice seminal root growth, and that ethylene within the threshold may antagonize auxin inhibition of rice seminal root growth.     

Sucrose non‐fermenting kinase 1 (SnRK1) coordinates metabolic and hormonal signals during pea cotyledon growth and differentiation

Seed development passes through developmental phases such as cell division, differentiation and maturation: each have specific metabolic demands. The ubiquitous sucrose non‐fermenting‐like kinase (SnRK1) coordinates and adjusts physiological and metabolic demands with growth. In protoplast assays sucrose deprivation and hormone supplementation, such as with auxin and abscisic acid (ABA), stimulate SnRK1‐promoter activity. This indicates regulation by nutrients: hormonal crosstalk under conditions of nutrient demand and cell proliferation. SnRK1‐repressed pea (Pisum sativum) embryos show lower cytokinin levels and deregulation of cotyledonary establishment and growth, together with downregulated gene expression related to cell proliferation, meristem maintenance and differentiation, leaf formation, and polarity. This suggests that at early stages of seed development SnRK1 regulates coordinated cotyledon emergence and growth via cytokinin‐mediated auxin transport and/or distribution. Decreased ABA levels and reduced gene expression, involved in ABA‐mediated seed maturation and response to sugars, indicate that SnRK1 is required for ABA synthesis and/or signal transduction at an early stage. Metabolic profiling of SnRK1‐repressed embryos revealed lower levels of most organic and amino acids. In contrast, levels of sugars and glycolytic intermediates were higher or unchanged, indicating decreased carbon partitioning into subsequent pathways such as the tricarbonic acid cycle and amino acid biosynthesis. It is hypothesized that SnRK1 mediates the responses to sugar signals required for early cotyledon establishment and patterning. As a result, later maturation and storage activity are strongly impaired. Changes observed in SnRK1‐repressed pea seeds provide a framework for how SnRK1 communicates nutrient and hormonal signals from auxins, cytokinins and ABA to control metabolism and development.     

The rib1 mutant of Arabidopsis has alterations in indole-3-butyric acid transport, hypocotyl elongation, and root architecture

Polar transport of the auxin indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) has recently been shown to occur in Arabidopsis (Arabidopis thaliana) seedlings, yet the physiological importance of this process has yet to be fully resolved. Here we describe the first demonstration of altered IBA transport in an Arabidopsis mutant, and show that the resistant to IBA (rib1) mutation results in alterations in growth, development, and response to exogenous auxin consistent with an important physiological role for IBA transport. Both hypocotyl and root IBA basipetal transport are decreased in rib1 and root acropetal IBA transport is increased. While indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) transport levels are not different in rib1 compared to wild type, root acropetal IAA transport is insensitive to the IAA efflux inhibitor naphthylphthalamic acid in rib1, as is the dependent physiological process of lateral root formation. These observed changes in IBA transport are accompanied by altered rib1 phenotypes. Previously, rib1 roots were shown to be less sensitive to growth inhibition by IBA, but to have a wild-type response to IAA in root elongation. rib1 is also less sensitive to IBA in stimulation of lateral root formation and in hypocotyl elongation under most, but not all, light and sucrose conditions. rib1 has wild-type responses to IAA, except under one set of conditions, low light and 1.5% sucrose, in which both hypocotyl elongation and lateral root formation show altered IAA response. Taken together, our results support a model in which endogenous IBA influences wild-type seedling morphology. Modifications in IBA distribution in seedlings affect hypocotyl and root elongation, as well as lateral root formation.     

Potassium carrier TRH1 is required for auxin transport in Arabidopsis roots

Disruption of the TRH1 potassium transporter impairs root hair development in Arabidopsis, and also affects root gravitropic behaviour. Rescue of these morphological defects by exogenous auxin indicates a link between TRH1 activity and auxin transport. In agreement with this hypothesis, the rate of auxin translocation from shoots to roots and efflux of [3H]IAA in isolated root segments were reduced in the trh1 mutant, but efflux of radiolabelled auxin was accelerated in yeast cells transformed with the TRH1 gene. In roots, Pro(TRH1):GUS expression was localized to the root cap cells which are known to be the sites of gravity perception and are central for the redistribution of auxin fluxes. Consistent with these findings, auxin-dependent DR5:GUS promoter-reporter construct was misexpressed in the trh1 mutant indicating that partial block of auxin transport through the root cap is associated with upstream accumulation of the phytohormone in protoxylem cells. When [K+] in the medium was reduced from 20 to 0.1 mm, wild type roots showed mild agravitropic phenotype and DR5:GUS misexpression in stelar cells. This pattern of response to low external [K+] was also affected by trh1 mutation. We conclude that the TRH1 carrier is an important part of auxin transport system in Arabidopsis roots.     

Autolysis in vitro of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibre cell walls

Root growth of partly defoliated young peach seedlings [ Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. cv. Lovell] was significantly promoted by application of myo-inositol to the cut surface of the stem. Addition of benzylaminopurine (BA) combined with sucrose enhanced the promotive effect of myo-inositol on root growth, but addition of sucrose alone, suppressed it. Spraying rooted peach cuttings (nectarine cv. Sunred) with myo-inositol and defoliating them after 5 days increased the incorporation of amino acids into proteins in excised roots, obtained from the sprayed plants, as compared with roots from plants sprayed with water, or sucrose, or sucrose + myo-inositol. Myo-inositol applied in combination with kinetin or BA to stems of young peach seedlings (cv. Lovell) or rooted peach cuttings (cv. Almog) promoted the basipctal translocation of the two cytokinins in the stem and acropetally into the small lateral roots. Addition of sucrose voided this effect on the cytokinins. BA, when applied together with myo-inositol, was partly converted into an additional cytokinin-active compound in the roots.
Application of BA to either roots or tops of rooted peach cuttings (cv. Almog) resulted in the accumulation of myo-inositol (supplied through the cut surface of the stem) in the plant part to which BA had been applied.     

Ethylene Interacts with Auxin in Regulating Developmental Attenuation of Gravitropism in Flax Root

Previous research shows that gravity-sensing in flax (Linum usitatissimum) root is initiated during seed imbibition and precedes root emergence. In this study we investigated the developmental attenuation of flax root gravitropism post-germination and the involvement of ethylene. Gravity response deteriorated significantly from 3 to 11?h after root emergence, which occurred at around 19?h after imbibition (that is, from “age” 22 to 30?h). Although the root elongation rate increased from 22 to 30?h, the gravitropic curving rate declined steadily. Older roots were able to tolerate higher levels of exogenous IAA before inhibition of elongation and gravitropism occurred. The age-dependent effect of IAA on root growth and gravitropism suggests that young roots are more sensitive to auxin and respond to a smaller vertical auxin gradient than older roots upon horizontal gravistimulation. The ethylene synthesis inhibitor AVG (2-aminoethoxyvinyl glycine, 10?μM) or ethylene action inhibitor Ag⁺ (10?μM) stimulated gravitropic curvature of 30?h roots by 24 and 32%, respectively, but had no effect on 22?h roots, suggesting that as roots age, ethylene begins to play a role in root gravitropism. The auxin transport inhibitor NPA (N-naphthylphthalamic acid, 50?μM) reduced gravitropic curvature of 30?h roots by 24% but had no effect on 22?h roots. On the other hand, treating roots simultaneously with the auxin transport inhibitor and ethylene synthesis or action inhibitor stimulated gravitropic curvature of 30?h roots but not 22?h roots. Taken together, these data indicate that as roots develop, their weakened gravity response is due to decreased auxin sensitivity and possibly auxin transport regulated by ethylene.     

AUXIN UP-REGULATED F-BOX PROTEIN1 regulates the cross talk between auxin transport and cytokinin signaling during plant root growth

Plant root development is mediated by the concerted action of the auxin and cytokinin phytohormones, with cytokinin serving as an antagonist of auxin transport. Here, we identify the AUXIN UP-REGULATED F-BOX PROTEIN1 (AUF1) and its potential paralog AUF2 as important positive modifiers of root elongation that tether auxin movements to cytokinin signaling in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The AUF1 mRNA level in roots is strongly up-regulated by auxin but not by other phytohormones. Whereas the auf1 single and auf1 auf2 double mutant roots grow normally without exogenous auxin and respond similarly to the wild type upon auxin application, their growth is hypersensitive to auxin transport inhibitors, with the mutant roots also having reduced basipetal and acropetal auxin transport. The effects of auf1 on auxin movements may be mediated in part by the misexpression of several PIN-FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux proteins, which for PIN2 reduces its abundance on the plasma membrane of root cells. auf1 roots are also hypersensitive to cytokinin and have increased expression of several components of cytokinin signaling. Kinematic analyses of root growth and localization of the cyclin B mitotic marker showed that AUF1 does not affect root cell division but promotes cytokinin-mediated cell expansion in the elongation/differentiation zone. Epistasis analyses implicate the cytokinin regulator ARR1 or its effector(s) as the target of the SKP1-Cullin1-F Box (SCF) ubiquitin ligases assembled with AUF1/2. Given the wide distribution of AUF1/2-type proteins among land plants, we propose that SCF(AUF1/2) provides additional cross talk between auxin and cytokinin, which modifies auxin distribution and ultimately root elongation.     

Mutations in Arabidopsis multidrug resistance-like ABC transporters separate the roles of acropetal and basipetal auxin transport in lateral root development

Auxin affects the shape of root systems by influencing elongation and branching. Because multidrug resistance (MDR)-like ABC transporters participate in auxin transport, they may be expected to contribute to root system development. This reverse genetic study of Arabidopsis thaliana roots shows that MDR4-mediated basipetal auxin transport did not affect root elongation or branching. However, impaired acropetal auxin transport due to mutation of the MDR1 gene caused 21% of nascent lateral roots to arrest their growth and the remainder to elongate 50% more slowly than the wild type. Reporter gene analyses indicated a severe auxin deficit in the apex of mdr1 but not mdr4 lateral roots. The mdr1 deficit was explained by 40% less acropetal auxin transport within the mdr1 lateral roots. The slow elongation of mdr1 lateral roots was rescued by auxin and phenocopied in the wild type by an inhibitor of polar auxin transport. Confocal microscopy analysis of a functional green fluorescent protein-MDR1 translational fusion showed the protein to be auxin inducible and present in the tissues responsible for acropetal transport in the primary root. The protein also accumulated in lateral root primordia and later in the tissues responsible for acropetal transport within the lateral root, fully supporting the conclusion that auxin levels established by MDR1-dependent acropetal transport control lateral root growth rate to influence root system architecture.     

Light Quality Regulates Lateral Root Development in Tobacco Seedlings by Shifting Auxin Distributions

Light is an important environmental regulator of diverse growth and developmental processes in plants. However, the mechanisms by which light quality regulates root growth are poorly understood. We analyzed lateral root (LR) growth of tobacco seedlings in response to three kinds of light qualities (red, white, and blue). Primary (1°) LR number and secondary (2°) LR density were elevated under red light (on days 9 and 12 of treatment) in comparison with white and blue lights. Higher IAA concentrations measured in roots and lower in leaves of plants treated with red light suggest that red light accelerated auxin transport from the leaves to roots (in comparison with other light qualities). Corroborative evidence for this suggestion was provided by elevated DR5::GUS expression levels at the shoot/root junction and in the 2° LR region. Applications of N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) to red light-treated seedlings reduced both 1° LR number and 2° LR density to levels similar to those measured under white light; DR5::GUS expression levels were also similar between these light qualities after NPA application. Results were similar following exogenous auxin (NAA) application to blue light-treated seedlings. Direct [³H]IAA transport measurement indicated that the polar auxin transport from shoot to root was increased by red light. Red light promoted PIN3 expression levels and blue light reduced PIN1, 3–4 expression levels in the shoot/root junction and in the root, indicating that these genes play key roles in auxin transport regulation by red and blue lights. Overall, our findings suggest that three kinds of light qualities regulate LR formation in tobacco seedlings through modification of auxin polar transport.