Protein and free amino acids in field-grown cowpea seeds as affected by water stress at various growth stages

Summary This study was undertaken to evaluate water stress effects during vegetative, flowering, and podfilling stages of cowpea plants (Vigna unguiculata L.) grown under natural field conditions in southern California on seed yield and protein and free amino acid content of the cowpea seeds. The lowest concentration of N was found in the seeds of the control treatment plants while the seed yield from these treatments was the highest as compared with the N concentration and yield of seeds from plants subjected to water stress during flowering and podfilling stages. The concentration of N in the seeds was inversely related to the seed dry weight yield. Protein arginine,-threonine,-serine,-cystine,-valine,-methionine, and-isoleucine were significantly affected by water stress at the three growth stages. There was no consistent pattern in the effect of water stress on the individual amino acids. The sum of protein amino acids in the cowpea seeds was not significantly influenced by the various treatments since some of the protein amino acids increased and others decreased producing an averaging effect on the figures comprising the sums of the amino acids. Water stress during the flowering and pod-filling stages increased the free amino acid pool, and at the same time, inhibited incorporation of the amino acids into the protein chain-thus lowering the protein amino acid fraction simultaneously. With the exception of methionine plus cystine, the essential amino acids in the seeds were present at concentrations equal to or greater than recommended by the World Health Organization and FAO. It is of particular importance to note that the concentration of lysine in the cowpeas was substantially higher than that found in wheat grain. It is also important to note that the amount of essential amino acids per gram of protein was not measurably affected by the water stress treatments during any of the growth stages.     

Accumulation of low molecular weight solutes in water-stressed tropical legumes

Fourteen species of tropical legumes, representing 10 genera, were subjected to water stress. Youngest fully expanded leaves of stressed and unstressed plants were analysed for inorganic ions, sugars, inositols, organic acids, betaines and amino acids. The major compounds which accumulated with water stress were O-methyl-inositols (14 species), 2-methyl-2,3,4-trihydroxybutanoic acid-1,4-lactone (10 species) and proline (9 species). Concentrations of inorganic ions, sugars and organic acids decreased or were unchanged in the majority of the stressed species. The betaines, glycinebetaine, trigonelline and stachydrine were detected in low concentrations in most of the legumes but did not accumulate to any degree during water stress. All the legumes which tolerated low leaf water potentials accumulated the O-methyl-inositol, pinitol. The other species, with the exception of Siratro, contained ononitol or O-methyl-scyllo-inositol but no pinitol. It is suggested that pinitol accumulation may indicate a legume able to tolerate low leaf water potentials.     

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid and mobilization pattern of macromolecules during water stress in germinating cicer seedlings

Ascorbic acid (AA) turnover, and levels of RNA and protein were determined during germination ofCicer arietinum cv. Chafa under—(i) normal watering; (ii) water stress of six days; and (iii) revival upto next stage of seedling growth after water stress. Water stress lowered significantly AA, ascorbigen, ascorbic acid—macromolecule complex, RNA and protein content in embryo axis while a reverse trend was seen after revival. In the cotyledon, AA, RNA and protein contents were higher during water stress. However on revival only AA and protein contents decreased, whereas the RNA content showed further enhancement. It is suggested that increased synthesis of AA in the cotyledon during water stress may trigger enhanced synthesis of RNA and consequently of enzymic proteins, thus bringing about rapid mobilization of reserve materials during revival.     

Overexpression of wheat <Emphasis Type="Italic">TaNCED</Emphasis> gene in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> enhances tolerance to drought stress and delays seed germination

Abscisic acid (ABA) regulates various plant physiological processes, especially participates in the plant responses to harsh environments. The 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) is a key enzyme in ABA biosynthesis pathway. Here, a TaNCED with an 1 887-bp open reading frame was cloned from wheat, which encodes a peptide of 628 amino acids. A chloroplast transit peptide sequence was found at the N-terminus of the TaNCED protein. Multiple sequence alignments indicate that the TaNCED protein shared high similarities with other NCEDs from different species. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis shows that expression of TaNCED was strongly up-regulated by treatments with ABA, polyethylene glycol, and drought stress, and it was down-regulated during germination of the wheat seeds. Ectopic overexpression of the TaNCED gene in Arabidopsis resulted in an increase of endogenous ABA and free proline content. A lower water loss rate and stomatal conductance of leaves were found in the transgenic plants in comparison with the wild type. Subsequently, the transgenic plants displayed an enhanced tolerance to drought stress but delayed seed germination. These data provide evidence that the TaNCED might play a primary role in regulation of ABA content during water stress and seed dormancy.     

Characterization of a Gene for Spinach CAP160 and Expression of Two Spinach Cold-Acclimation Proteins in Tobacco

The cDNA sequence for CAP160, an acidic protein previously linked with cold acclimation in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), was characterized and found to encode a novel acidic protein of 780 amino acids having very limited homology to a pair of Arabidopsis thaliana stress-regulated proteins, rd29A and rd29B. The lack of similarity in the structural organization of the spinach and Arabidopsis genes highlights the absence of a high degree of conservation of this cold-stress gene across taxonomic boundaries. The protein has several unique motifs that may relate to its function during cold stress. Expression of the CAP160 mRNA was increased by low-temperature exposure and water stress in a manner consistent with a probable function during stresses that involve dehydration. The coding sequences for CAP160 and CAP85, another spinach cold-stress protein, were introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) under the control of the 35S promoter using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-based transformation. Tobacco plants expressing the proteins individually or coexpressing both proteins were evaluated for relative freezing-stress tolerance. The killing temperature for 50% of the cells of the transgenic plants was not different from that of the wild-type plants. As determined by a more sensitive time/temperature kinetic study, plants expressing the spinach proteins had slightly lower levels of electrolyte leakage than wild-type plants, indicative of a small reduction of freezing-stress injury. Clearly, the heterologous expression of two cold-stress proteins had no profound influence on stress tolerance, a result that is consistent with the quantitative nature of cold-stress-tolerance traits.     

Changes in Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) Glycerolipids in Response to Water Stress

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) plants with the first trifoliate leaf fully expanded were exposed to 4 and 8 days of water stress. Leaf water potentials dropped from −0.6 megapascal to −1.7 megapascals after 4 days of stress; then to −3.1 megapascals after 8 days without water. All of the plants recovered when rewatered. The effects of short-term drought stress on triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, phospholipid, and galactolipid metabolism in the first trifoliate leaves was determined. Leaf triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol content increased 2-fold during the first 4 days of stress and returned to control levels 3 days after rewatering. The polar lipid fraction, which contained phospholipids and galactolipids, changed little during this time. The linolenic acid (18:3) content of the triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol increased 25% during stress and the polar lipid 18:3 content decreased 15%. The pattern of glycerolipid labeling, after applying [2-¹⁴C]acetate to intact leaves was altered by water stress. After 4 days of water stress the radioactivity of phosphatidic acid + phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, triacylglycerol, and diacylglycerol increased between 4 and 9% (compared to control plans) while radioactivity of phosphatidylethanolamine, monogalactosyldiglyceride, and digalactosyldiglyceride decreased 2 to 11%. These data indicated that increased levels of triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol observed during water stress were attributed to de novo synthesis rather than breakdown or reutilization of existing glycerolipids and fatty acids.     

Water Stress and Protein Synthesis: V. Protein Synthesis, Protein Stability, and Membrane Permeability in a Drought-sensitive and a Drought-tolerant Moss

The effects have been studied of water stress and desiccation on protein synthesis in the drought-tolerant moss Tortula ruralis and the drought-sensitive moss Hygrohypnum luridum. At any particular level of steady state water stress, the inhibition of protein synthesis was greater in H. luridum than in T. ruralis. Water stress-induced changes in the pattern of protein synthesis, as determined by the double label ratio technique, were minor in T. ruralis, but major in H. luridum. Proteins of both mosses were found to be stable during desiccation and subsequent rehydration. Changes in membrane permeability, as indicated by the leakage of amino acid, were observed during rehydration of desiccated moss and were dependent on the rate of desiccation. The leakage was small and reversible in T. ruralis but large and irreversible in H. luridum. Although H. luridum failed to recover from complete desiccation (80% loss in fresh weight), it was able to recover fully from steady state stress under conditions where a maximum loss of 55% in fresh weight was recorded.     

Plant growth, metabolism and adaptation in relation to stress conditions. XXVII. Can ascorbic acid modify the adverse effects of NaCl and mannitol on amino acids, nucleic acids and protein patterns in Vicia faba seedlings?

The adverse effects of either NaCl or mannitol on amino acids, protein patterns and nucleic acids in Vicia faba seeds were investigated. The exogenous addition of 4 mM ascorbic acid to the stressing media in which the broad bean seeds were germinated in combination with either the ionic (NaCl) or osmotic (mannitol) stressor induced significant protective changes in the total amount and in the relative composition of amino acids in general and in proline, glycine, glutamic, aspartic, alanine and serine in particular. It also induced changes in nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) content. These changes occurred throughout the entire period of the experiments (12 days). Separate administration of NaCl or mannitol enhanced the occurrence of particular novel proteins that were not detected in control bean seeds (water medium). Protein banding patterns of broad bean seedlings treated with NaCl or mannitol in combination with 4 mM ascorbic acid showed different de novo protein bands, with different molecular weights, at different stages of seedlings growth, with lower levels or a nearly complete absence of the major stress proteins. The pattern of changes for amino acids and nucleic acids and the range of protein bands extracted from the variously treated broad bean seedlings indicate a positive role of ascorbic acid in the alleviation of the damage effects induced by NaCl and mannitol. The importance of this role in the stress tolerance of broad beans is discussed.     

Hexaconazole induces antioxidant protection and apigenin-7-glucoside accumulation in Matricaria chamomilla plants subjected to drought stress

In this experiment, the possibility of enhancing the water deficit stress tolerance of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) during two growth stages by the exogenous application of hexaconazole (HEX) was investigated. To improve water deficit tolerance, HEX was applied in three concentrations during two different stages (50 and 80 days after sowing). After HEX applications, the plants were subjected to water deficit stress. Although all HEX concentrations improved the water deficit stress tolerance in chamomile plants, the application of 15 mg L⁻¹ provided better protection when compared to the other concentration. The exogenous application of HEX provided significant protection against water deficit stress compared to non-HEX-treated plants, significantly affecting the morphological characteristics and aspects of productivity, the relative water, protein and proline contents; non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants; and the flower's apigenin-7-glucoside content. These results suggest that the HEX-induced tolerance to water deficit stress in chamomile was related to the changes in growth variables, antioxidants and the apigenin-7-glucoside content.     

A Novel Nuclear Protein Phosphatase 2C Negatively Regulated by ABL1 is Involved in Abiotic Stress and Panicle Development in Rice

Type 2C protein phosphatase plays an important role in the signal transduction of stress response in plants. In this paper, we identified a novel stress-induced type 2C protein phosphatase gene OsSIPP2C1 from rice. OsSIPP2C1 contains a complete open reading frame of 1,074 bp, encoding a protein with 357 amino acids. OsSIPP2C1 expression was up-regulated by high salt, PEG6000 and exogenous ABA, and enhanced in the abl1 mutant under normal, salt, or drought condition. Interestingly, OsSIPP2C1 expression was increased during the early panicle development. Subcellular localization assay using rice protoplast cells indicated that OsSIPP2C1 was predominantly located in the nucleus. Together, it is suggested that a nuclear PP2C protein OsSIPP2C1 negatively regulated by ABL1 is involved in abiotic stress and panicle development in rice.     

Physiological Changes in Cultured Sorghum Cells in Response to Induced Water Stress : II. Soluble Carbohydrates and Organic Acids

Eight cultivars Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench were grown as callus cultures under induced, prolonged water stress (8 weeks), with polyethylene glycol in the medium. Concentrations of soluble carbohydrates and organic acids in callus were measured at the end of the growth period to determine differences in response to prolonged water stress. Sucrose, glucose, fructose, and malate were the predominant solutes detected in all callus at all water potentials. All cultivars had high levels of solutes in the absence of water stress and low levels in the presence of prolonged water stress. However, at low water potentials, low levels of solutes were observed in drought-tolerant cultivar callus and high solute levels were observed in drought-susceptible cultivar callus. Estimated sucrose concentrations were significantly higher in water-stressed, susceptible cultivar callus. Large solute concentrations in susceptible cultivar callus were attributed to osmotic adjustment and/or reduced growth during water stress.     

Sources of Proline-nitrogen in Water-stressed Soybean (Glycine max L.) I. Protein Metabolism and Proline Accumulation

Water stress was imposed upon soybean plants (Glycine max L.)grown in a greenhouse by withholding irrigation for 10 daysafter 5 weeks of growth, and the changes under stress in thelevels of free amino acids, free ammonia and protein were determinedin detail. With a decrease in the leaf water potential, theprotein content gradually decreased, whereas the free ammoniacontent was relatively constant. Water stress induced an increasein the levels of free amino acids normally present in proteinsuch as isoleucine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, glutamineand histidine, indicating that protein hydrolysis occurs understress. Proline accumulated only under severe stress (below–1.5 MPa) and attained 0.86% of the dry weight on day10 (–2.6 MPa). Asparagine also accumulated only undersevere stress (below –2.0 MPa). The concentration of glutamicacid, alanine, aspartic acid, serine, glycine and arginine remainedvirtually unchanged during the stress period. Total proline(protein-bound+free) first decreased during mild to moderatestress, and then increased over that of the well-irrigated controlplants at severe stress due to a remarkable accumulation offree proline. These findings indicate that some de novo synthesisof proline occurs under severe stress and that the nitrogensource for this proline synthesis may be protein. (Received July 4, 1981; Accepted September 11, 1981)     

Effects of Various Levels of CO(2) on the Induction of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism in Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq

In response to water stress, Portulacaria afra (L.) Jacq. (Portulacaceae) shifts its photosynthetic carbon metabolism from the Calvin-Benson cycle for CO₂ fixation (C₃) photosynthesis or Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM)-cycling, during which organic acids fluctuate with a C₃-type of gas exchange, to CAM. During the CAM induction, various attributes of CAM appear, such as stomatal closure during the day, increase in diurnal fluctuation of organic acids, and an increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity. It was hypothesized that stomatal closure due to water stress may induce changes in internal CO₂ concentration and that these changes in CO₂ could be a factor in CAM induction. Experiments were conducted to test this hypothesis. Well-watered plants and plants from which water was withheld starting at the beginning of the experiment were subjected to low (40 ppm), normal (ca. 330 ppm), and high (950 ppm) CO₂ during the day with normal concentrations of CO₂ during the night for 16 days. In water-stressed and in well-watered plants, CAM induction as ascertained by fluctuation of total titratable acidity, fluctuation of malic acid, stomatal conductance, CO₂ uptake, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity, remained unaffected by low, normal, or high CO₂ treatments. In well-watered plants, however, both low and high ambient concentrations of CO₂ tended to reduce organic acid concentrations, low concentrations of CO₂ reducing the organic acids more than high CO₂. It was concluded that exposing the plants to the CO₂ concentrations mentioned had no effect on inducing or reducing the induction of CAM and that the effect of water stress on CAM induction is probably mediated by its effects on biochemical components of leaf metabolism.