Effects of salinity on growth,membrane permeability and root hydraulic conductivity in three saltbush species

The species of the genus Atriplex have been introduced in West Asia and North Africa to determine their adaptability for use as fodder species. These halophytes are well adapted to extreme environmental conditions and may possess interesting properties for soil rehabilitation. The effect of NaCl stress on growth, water relation and mineral nutrition were investigated in three xero-halophyte species of Atriplex used for rehabilitation of arid steppe in Algeria. Atriplex halimus, Atriplex canescens and Atriplex nummularia, were cultivated in hydroponic conditions and treated with increasing doses of NaCl (0–300 mM). All species showed positive plant growth for low and moderate levels of salinity. A. halimus had higher dry weight production than A. nummularia and A. canescens in high salinity concentration. Increasing concentration of salinity induced decrease in chlorophyll content (Chl a and b) and root hydraulic conductivity (L₀) in all species, especially in A. canescens. All three species showed marked increase in electrolyte leakage across the salinity gradient. In addition all species were able to accumulate a large quantity of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl) and proline and to maintain higher relative water content, which was probably associated with a greater capacity for osmotic adjustment, whereas potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) decreased with increase salinity. The data suggest that salt tolerance strategies in all Atriplex species could involve a delicate balance among ion accumulation, osmotic adjustment, production of osmotica and maintenance of relative water content and growth.     

High salinity reduces the content of a highly abundant 23-kDa protein of the mangrove<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Bruguiera parviflora</Emphasis>

A significant decrease in the amount of a protein, whose migration in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis corresponds to an apparent molecular mass of 23 kDa and pI=6.5, was observed in leaves of NaCl-treated Bruguiera parviflora (Roxb.) Wt. & Arn. ex Griff. seedlings. This particular salt-sensitive protein, designated as SSP-23, almost disappeared after 45 days of treatment in 400 mM NaCl as compared to untreated seedlings (0 mM NaCl) where the presence of the protein was significant. A polyclonal antibody raised against the 23-kDa protein was used to determine the subcellular localization of this protein in leaves by cross-reaction with proteins from isolated chloroplasts, mitochondria, peroxisomes and cytosol fractions on Western blots. SSP-23 was confirmed to be localized in the cytosol by immunoblotting. The disappearance of SSP-23 as a result of high NaCl treatment suggests that this protein is salt-sensitive and has a possible role in salt adaptation.     

Salt stress induces changes in amounts and localization of the mitogen-activated protein kinase SIMK in alfalfa roots

Summary SIMK is an alfalfa mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) that is activated by salt stress and shows a nuclear localization in suspension-cultured cells. We investigated the localization of SIMK in alfalfa (Medicago sati a) roots. Although SIMK was expressed in most tissues of the root apex, cells of the quiescent center and statocytes showed much lower SIMK protein amounts. In cells of the elongation zone, SIMK was present in much higher amounts in epidermal than in cortex cells. In dividing cells of the root tip, SIMK revealed a cell cycle phase-dependent localization, being predominantly nuclear in interphase but associating with the cell plate and the newly formed cell wall in telophase and early G₁ phase. In dividing cells, salt stress resulted in an association of part of the SIMK with the preprophase band. Generally, salt stress resulted in much higher amounts of SIMK in dividing cells of the root apex and epidermal cells of the elongation zone. These data demonstrate that amounts and subcellular localization of SIMK in roots is highly regulated and sensitive to environmental stress.Dedicated to Professor Walter Gustav Url on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

The impact of salt stress on the water status of barley plants is partially mitigated by elevated CO2

With the changing climate, plants will be facing increasingly harsh environmental conditions marked by elevated salinity in the soils and elevated concentrations of CO₂ in the atmosphere. These two factors have opposite effects on water status in plants. Therefore, our objective was to determine the interaction between these two factors and to determine whether elevated [CO₂] might alleviate the adverse effects of salt stress on water status in two barley cultivars, Alpha and Iranis, by studying their relative water content and their water potential and its components, transpiration rate, hydraulic conductance, and water use efficiency. Both cultivars maintained their water status under salt stress, increasing water use efficiency and conserving a high relative water content by (1) reducing water potential via passive dehydration and active osmotic adjustment and (2) decreasing transpiration through stomatal closure and reducing hydraulic conductance. Iranis showed a greater capacity to achieve osmotic adjustment than Alpha. Under the combined conditions of salt-stress and elevated [CO₂], both cultivars (1) achieved osmotic adjustment to a greater extent than at ambient [CO₂], likely due to elevated rates of photosynthesis, and (2) decreased passive dehydration by stomatal closure, thereby maintaining a greater turgor potential, relative water content, and water use efficiency. Therefore, we found an interaction between salt stress and elevated [CO₂] with regard to water status in plants and found that elevated [CO₂] is associated with improved water status of salt-stressed barley plants.     

三种乌贼内骨骼生化成分研究

曼氏无针乌贼（Sepiella maindroni）和金乌贼（Sepia esculenta）的内骨骼称为海螵蛸,可用于制酸、止血等。通过对曼氏无针乌贼、金乌贼和虎斑乌贼（Sepia pharaonis）内骨骼生化成分的比较,有望实现传统中药海螵蛸原料质量的提升和替代。分别使用烘干干燥法、高温灼烧法、凯氏定氮法、索氏提取法、酸碱浸泡法、茚三酮柱后衍生离子交换色谱法、离子发光色谱法检测水分、灰分、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗甲壳素、氨基酸及矿物质。结果显示：三种内骨骼营养成分中,虎斑乌贼水分和粗蛋白含量最高,分别为（2.52±0.16）%和（3.43±0.10）%;金乌贼灰分和粗脂肪含量最高,分别为（94.7±0.26）%和（0.24±0.04）%;甲壳素含量最高的为曼氏无针乌贼内骨骼,为（9.48±0.36）%,约为其他两种的1.50倍。三种乌贼内骨骼共检出15种氨基酸,其中必需氨基酸（EAA）7种,半必需氨基酸（HEAA）1种,非必需氨基酸（NEAA）7种,三种乌贼骨的EAA/TAA为44.64%~47.09%,符合FAO/WHO中对于蛋白质EAA/TAA的理想评定标准。金乌贼内骨骼的钙含量最高（3.93×10⁵ mg/kg）、曼氏无针乌贼的钠含量最高（1.02×10⁴ mg/kg）、虎斑乌贼的钾含量最高（589.5 mg/kg）。可见三种乌贼内骨骼均是低脂肪、高甲壳素、高矿物质的中药。虎斑乌贼内骨骼蛋白和灰分营养成分含量较为丰富,是否可以作为传统海螵蛸的替代品,值得进一步探讨。     

Identification at the species and symbiovar levels of strains nodulating Phaseolus vulgaris in saline soils of the Marrakech region (Morocco) and analysis of the otsA gene putatively involved in osmotolerance

Salinity is an increasing problem in Africa affecting rhizobia-legume symbioses. In Morocco, Phaseolus vulgaris is cultivated in saline soils and its symbiosis with rhizobia depends on the presence of osmotolerant strains in these soils. In this study, 32 osmotolerant rhizobial strains nodulating P. vulgaris were identified at the species and symbiovar levels by analysing core and symbiotic genes, respectively. The most abundant strains were closely related to Rhizobium etli and R. phaseoli and belonged to symbiovar phaseoli. A second group of strains was identified as R. gallicum sv gallicum. The remaining strains, identified as R. tropici, belonged to the CIAT 899(T) nodC group, which has not yet been described as a symbiovar. In representative strains, the otsA gene involved in the accumulation of trehalose and putatively in osmotolerance was analysed. The results showed that the phylogeny of this gene was not completely congruent with those of other core genes, since the genus Ensifer was more closely related to some Rhizobium species than others. Although the role of the otsA gene in osmotolerance is not well established, it can be a useful protein-coding gene for phylogenetic studies in the genus Rhizobium, since the phylogenies of otsA and other core genes are coincident at the species level.     

Expression analysis of a stress-modulated transcript in drought tolerant and susceptible cultivars of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

The present study reports the cloning of a 581 bp sequence, designated as SbEST8, from the osmotically stressed germinated seeds of a drought tolerant cultivar of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor). The SbEST8, which shows no homology with the reported gene sequences, is present in multiple copies and lacks restriction fragment length polymorphism among different sorghum cultivars. The expression of SbEST8 in the germinating seeds of sorghum was modulated by different abiotic stresses. Kinetic studies revealed that imposition of osmotic stress after 8h resulted in maximum levels of SbEST8 mRNA in the germinating seeds of cv. ICSV-272, with further stress causing a decline to undetectable levels by 16 h. However, relieving the stress after 12h resulted in an enhancement of SbEST8 mRNA levels for at least another 4h following which it declined. The decrease in SbEST8 mRNA levels in the leaves at 30 DAS in response to drought stress was observed only in the drought susceptible cultivar (CSV-216), whereas its expression was either increased substantially or remained unaffected in the tolerant cultivars, thus suggesting its role in water stress tolerance.     

Salinity-induced changes in protein expression in the halophytic plant Nitraria sphaerocarpa

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that inhibits plant growth and development. Plants have evolved complex adaptive mechanisms that respond to salinity stress. However, an understanding of how plants respond to salinity stress is far from being complete. In particular, how plants survive salinity stress via alterations to their intercellular metabolic networks and defense systems is largely unknown. To delineate the responses of Nitraria sphaerocarpa cell suspensions to salinity, changes in their protein expression patterns were characterized by a comparative proteomic approach. Cells that had been treated with 150 mM NaCl for 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 days developed several stress-related phenotypes, including those affecting morphology and biochemical activities. Of ~1100 proteins detected in 2-DE gel patterns, 130 proteins showed differences in abundance with more than 1.5-fold when cells were stressed by salinity. All but one of these proteins was identified by MS and database searching. The 129 spots contained 111 different proteins, including those involved in signal transduction, cell rescue/defense, cytoskeleton and cell cycle, protein folding and assembly, which were the most significantly affected. Taken together, our results provide a foundation to understand the mechanism of salinity response.     

Effect of sudden salinity change on Penaeus latisulcatus Kishinouye osmoregulation, ionoregulation and condition in inland saline water and potassium-fortified inland saline water

Two trials were conducted to determine the effect of sudden decrease in salinity of raw and potassium-fortified inland saline water on western king prawn Penaeus latisulcatus osmoregulation, ionoregulation and condition. Prawns were subjected to salinity decrease over 1 h from 32 to 25 ppt in the first trial and from 27 to 20 ppt in the second trial in three water types: inland saline water with potassium fortified to 100% and 80% of the marine water concentration (IS100, IS80), and raw inland saline water (ISW). In the first trial condition and ingestion rate were monitored over 19 days following salinity change. In the second trial condition, haemolymph osmo- and iono-regulation were recorded over 48 h following salinity change. In the first trial, 100% mortality was observed in ISW by day 13, with final survival 94% in IS80 and 100% in IS100. Tail muscle moisture content increased significantly (P < 0.05) over time in both trials and in all water types, suggesting loss of energy reserves. In the second trial, serum osmolality, sodium concentration and osmoregulatory capacity decreased following salinity change, stabilising by 24 h in IS100 and IS80 but continuing to decrease till 48 h in ISW, suggesting partial breakdown of osmoregulatory function in the potassium-deficient medium. Prawns were stronger regulators of divalent than monovalent cations. These trials demonstrate that potassium-deficient inland saline water requires fortification with potassium to allow prawn survival and efficient osmoregulation.     

Osmotic adjustment and ion balance traits of an alkali resistant halophyte Kochia sieversiana during adaptation to salt and alkali conditions

Kochia sieversiana (Pall.) C. A. M., a naturally alkali-resistant halophyte, was chosen as the test organism for our research. The seedlings of K. sieversiana were treated with varying (0–400 mM) salt stress (1:1 molar ratio of NaCl to Na₂SO₄) and alkali stress (1:1 molar ratio of NaHCO₃ to Na₂CO₃). The concentrations of various solutes in fresh shoots, including Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻, H₂PO₃⁻, betaine, proline, soluble sugar (SS), and organic acid (OA), were determined. The water content (WC) of the shoots was calculated and the OA components were analyzed. Finally, the osmotic adjustment and ion balance traits in the shoots of K. sieversiana were explored. The results showed that the WC of K. sieversiana remained higher than 6 [g g⁻¹ Dry weight (DW)] even under the highest salt or alkali stress. At salinity levels >240 mM, proline concentrations increased dramatically, with rising salinity. We proposed that this was not a simple response to osmotic stress. The concentrations of Na⁺ and K⁺ all increased with increasing salinity, which implies that there was no competitive inhibition for absorption of either in K. sieversiana. Based on our results, the osmotic adjustment feature of salt stress was similar to that of alkali stress in the shoots of K. sieversiana. The shared essential features were that the shoots maintained a state of high WC, OA, Na⁺, K⁺ and other inorganic ions, accumulated largely in the vacuoles, and betaine, accumulated in cytoplasm. On the other hand, the ionic balance mechanisms under both stresses were different. Under salt stress, K. sieversiana accumulated OA and inorganic ions to maintain the intracellular ionic equilibrium, with close to equal contributions of OA and inorganic ions to anion. However, under alkali stress, OA was the dominant factor in maintaining ionic equilibrium. The contribution of OA to anion was as high as 84.2%, and the contribution of inorganic anions to anion was only 15.8%. We found that the physiological responses of K. sieversiana to salt and alkali stresses were unique, and that mechanisms existed in it that were different from other naturally alkali-resistant gramineous plants, such as Aneurolepidium chinense, Puccinellia tenuiflora. Responsible Editor: John McPherson Cheeseman.     

Osmotic acclimation of the brackish water xanthophyceae,Vaucheria dichotoma (L.) MARTIUS: Inorganic ion composition and amino acids

The salinity tolerance ofVaucheria dichotoma, a siphonous Xanthophycean alga was investigated. The alga survived an external osmotic potential range between 74 and 1, 176 mOsmol (ca. 2.5 and 40.0 ppt. (parts per thousand]). Turgor pressure was regulated in salinities ranging from 74 to 441 mOsmol. With further increase of the salinity, turgor pressure decreased from 153 to 9 mOsmol (0.44 to 0.08 MPa). At 441 mOsmol salinity the major intracellular ions were present in the following concentrations (mM/l cell water): K⁺, 145; Na⁺; 90; sulphate, 91; Cl⁻, 91. Under the most severe salinity stress (1,176 mOsmol) the ionic concentration increased to (mM/l cell water): K⁺, 250; Na⁺, 75; sulphate, 35; Cl⁻, 351. The content of amino acids: alanine (Ala), threonine (Thr and glutamic acid (Glu) was lower, nerver exceeding 5–11 mM, however; the concentrations were positively correlated with salinity.     

A 10-year study of changes in forest vegetation on Silhouette island, Seychelles

A 10 year study of forest communities on Silhouette island, Seychelles demonstrates stability of forest composition in most areas over this time-scale. Areas with heavy invasion by alien species were found to be regenerating, particularly with the rapid loss of Clidemia hirta. This is attributed to the abundance of well-adapted native plants allowing competitive exclusion to take place, throughout competition for light. It was noted that invasive plant species tend to be unstable on the rocky slopes covered by native high forest. A high rate of tree fall and limited seed dispersal may reduce the impact of the invasive tree Paraserianthes falcataria in the future. Other species such as Cinnamomum verum and Psidium cattleianum may persist as major invaders due to wider seed dispersal.     

Cloning and characterization of a salt stress-inducible small GTPase gene from the model grass species Lolium temulentum

A gene encoding a small guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein (smGTP) related to the Rab2 gene family of GTPases was identified during the analysis of a salt stress suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) expression library from the model grass species Lolium temulentum L. (Darnel ryegrass). The smGTP gene was found to have a low-level constitutive expression and was strongly induced by salt stress in root, crown and leaf tissues. The expression pattern of the smGTP gene was compared against two additional stress genes identified in the SSH expression library, the well-characterized dehydration stress tolerance gene, delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) encoding for a key enzyme in proline biosynthesis, and the cold response gene COR413. The genes were analyzed for their response to salinity as well as their responses to 7 different forms of abiotic stress in L. temulentum plants. The smGTP gene displayed an expression pattern similar to the P5CS gene, suggesting a role in dehydration stress. In contrast, the COR413 gene was found to be up-regulated in response to all stresses tested and has utility as a general stress marker in grass plants.     

陕西省3种主要树种叶片、凋落物和土壤N、P化学计量特征

以陕西省29个县(市)39个样点的刺槐、辽东栎和油松林为研究对象,分析比较不同树种乔木叶片、凋落物与土壤N、P化学计量特征及其与经纬度、海拔、年均温度和年降水等环境因子间关系的异同以及三者之间可能存在的关系,以期为认识陕西省主要森林树种养分限制状况、制定合理的植被管理和恢复措施提供理论依据。结果表明:3树种叶片N、P含量及比值均为刺槐辽东栎油松,与叶片相比,凋落物中N、P含量变化幅度较小,为刺槐辽东栎油松,N∶P比值为油松辽东栎刺槐。10—20 cm与0—10 cm土层相比,3树种中除辽东栎中P含量差异不显著外,其它指标N、P含量及N∶P比值均显著下降(P0.05)。刺槐、辽东栎和油松叶片N、P含量与土壤N、P含量均没有显著相关性,以刺槐、辽东栎和油松3种植物叶片为总体来说,P含量与土壤P含量显著正相关(P0.05)。叶片N、P含量均大致表现出随着年均温度和年降水的增加而增加,随着经纬度的增加而降低的趋势,这一点在刺槐叶中最为明显。凋落物N含量随着年均温度和年降水的增加而增加,随着纬度和经度的增加而降低;P含量随着年降水和经度的增加而降低;N∶P比值随着年均温度和年降水的增加而增加,随着纬度的增加而降低。研究区内,土壤N、P含量随着纬度、海拔的增加和年均温度、年降水、经度的降低而增加,N∶P比值则呈相反的趋势。3树种土壤N、P含量及N∶P比值中,P含量比N含量受环境影响更大,且0—10 cm和10—20 cm土层N、P含量及N∶P比值与各环境因子的关系基本一致。     

Comparative effects of salt and alkali stresses on growth, osmotic adjustment and ionic balance of an alkali-resistant halophyte Suaeda glauca (Bge.)

Effects of salt and alkali stresses on growth, osmotic adjustment and ionic balance of Suaeda glauca (Bge.), an alkali-resistant succulent halophyte, were compared. The results showed that alkali stress clearly inhibited the growth of S. glauca. Moreover, the concentrations of Na⁺ and K⁺ both increased with increasing salinity under both stresses, suggesting no competitive inhibition between absorptions of Na⁺ and K⁺. The mechanism underlying osmotic adjustment during salt stress was similar to alkali stress in shoots. The shared essential features were that organic acids, betaine and inorganic ions (dominated by Na⁺) mostly accumulated. On the other hand, the mechanisms governing ionic balance under both stresses were different. Under salt stress, S. glauca accumulated organic acids and inorganic anions to maintain the intracellular ionic equilibrium, but the anion contribution of inorganic ions was greater than that of organic acids. However, the concentrations of inorganic anions under alkali stress were significantly lower than those under salt stress of the same intensity, suggesting that alkali stress might inhibit uptake of anions, such as NO₃ ^– and H₂PO₄ ^–. Under alkali stress, organic acids were the dominant factor in maintaining ionic equilibrium. The contribution of organic acids to anions was 74.1%, while that of inorganic anions was only 25.9%. S. glauca enhanced the synthesis of organic acids, dominated by oxalic acid, to compensate for the shortage of inorganic anions.     

Osmotic stress adaptation, compatible solutes accumulation and biocontrol efficacy of two potential biocontrol agents on Fusarium head blight in wheat

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Gibberella zeae (anamorph = Fusarium graminearum) is a devastating disease that causes extensive yield and quality losses to wheat in humid and semi-humid regions of the world. Biological control has been demonstrated to be effective under laboratory conditions but a few biocontrol products have been effective under field conditions. The improvement in the physiological quality of biocontrol agents may improve survival under field conditions, and therefore, enhance biocontrol activity. Bacillus subtilis RC 218 and Brevibacillus sp. RC 263 were isolated from wheat anthers and showed significant effect on control of FHB under greenhouse assays. This study showed the effect of water availability measured as water activity (a_W) using a growth medium modified with NaCl, glycerol and glucose on: (i) osmotic stress tolerance, (ii) viability in modified liquid medium, (iii) quantitative intracellular accumulation of betaine and ectoine and (iv) the biocontrol efficacy of the physiologically improved agents. Viability of B. subtilis RC 218 in NaCl modified media was similar to the control. Brevibacillus sp. RC 263 showed a limited adaptation to growth in osmotic stress. Betaine was detected in high levels in modified cells but ectoine accumulation was similar to the control cells. Biocontrol activity was studied in greenhouse assays on wheat inoculated at anthesis period with F. graminearum RC 276. Treatments with modified bacteria reduced disease severity from 60% for the control to below 20%. The physiological improvement of biocontrol agents could be an effective strategy to enhance stress tolerance and biocontrol activity under fluctuating environmental conditions.     

Salt tolerance in the halophyte Suaeda maritima L. Dum.

Osmotic potentials and individual epidermal cell turgor pressures were measured in the leaves of seedlings of Suaeda maritima growing over a range of salinities. Leaf osmotic potentials were lower (more negative) the higher the salt concentration of the solution and were lowest in the youngest leaves and stem apices, producing a gradient of osmotic potential towards the apex of the plant. Epidermal cell turgor pressures were of the order of 0.25 to 0.3 MPa in the youngest leaves measured, decreasing to under 0.05 MPa for the oldest leaves. This pattern of turgor pressure was largely unaffected by external salinity. Calculation of leaf water potential indicated that the gradient between young leaves and the external medium was not altered by salinity, but with older leaves, however, this gradient diminished from being the same as that for young leaves in the absence of NaCl, to under 30% of this value at 400 mM NaCl. These results are discussed in relation to the growth response of S. maritima.     

Exotic Spartina alterniflora provides compatible habitats for native estuarine crab Sesarma dehaani in the Yangtze River estuary

Although the impact of plant invasions on benthic communities, especially burrowing crabs, has received increasing attention, the results from past studies are mixed. The exotic plant Spartina alterniflora has become the most abundant species in the salt marshes of the Yangtze River estuary since it was first found just over a decade ago, but its effects on crabs in the salt marshes is largely unknown. To examine whether the invasions of this exotic plant affected native crabs, we compared the biomass and abundance of the dominant burrowing crab Sesarma dehaani in an exotic Spartina marsh, native Phragmites australis marsh and mudflats of the Yangtze River estuary, China. To explain the differences of S. dehaani populations between different habitats, feeding preference of S. dehaani for Spartina and Phragmites was investigated. Results showed crab abundance and biomass in the Spartina marsh were significantly greater than those in the Phragmites marsh and mudflats. Soil water content and plant community characteristics in the Spartina marsh also significantly differed in the Phragmites marsh and mudflats. Moreover, the feeding preference experiment showed that crabs consumed Spartina more than twice as much as Phragmites. In summary, this study showed that Spartina provided compatible habitats for native crab S. dehaani through offering suitable food source and moderate environmental conditions.     

Salt relations of Dunaliella. Transitional changes in glycerol content and oxygen exchange reactions on water stress

Changes in glycerol content are reported for Dunaliella tertiolecta over an 8 h period after a salt stress or dilution stress. Under the experimental conditions, the new glycerol level was reached in about 30 min in light or dark but there was evidence of oscillations after that, particularly on dilution stress. Glycerol disappearance on dilution stress is caused predominantly by dissimilation. A salt stress immediately inhibited photosynthetic oxygen evolution and caused net oxygen uptake for a period of about 36 h after the stress. Oxygen evolution was reestablished after that and the process of recovery to the point of resumption of net evolution was not affected by conditions designed to inhibit protein synthesis. Dilution stress of comparable magnitude diminished but did not eliminate photosynthetic oxygen evolution and recovery to a pre-stress level took about 18 h. Effects of HCO ₃ ^- concentration suggested that photorespiration was not the sole determinant of oxygen uptake induced by salt stress but it was not possible to apportion with confidence the contribution of mitochondrial and other types of respiration. There was no evidence that modification by stress of energy-induced proton fluxes across the plasma membrane constituted an osmoregulatory signal in either species.