Changes in leaf photosynthesis of transgenic rice with silenced <Emphasis Type="Italic">OsBP-73</Emphasis> gene

In comparison with its wild type (WT), the transgenic (TG) rice with silenced OsBP-73 gene had significantly lower plant height, grain number per panicle, and leaf net photosynthetic rate (P _N). Also, the TG rice showed significantly lower chlorophyll (Chl), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO), RuBPCO activase, and RuBP contents, photosystem 2 (PS2) photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m and ΔF/F_m′), apparent quantum yield of carbon assimilation (Φ_c), carboxylation efficiency (CE), photosynthetic electron transport and photophosphorylation rates as well as sucrose phosphate synthase activity, but higher intercellular CO₂ concentration, sucrose, fructose, and glycerate 3-phosphate contents, and non-photochemical quenching of Chl fluorescence (NPQ). Thus the decreased P _N in the TG rice leaves is related to both RuBP carboxylation and RuBP regeneration limitations, and the latter is a predominant limitation to photosynthesis.     

Hormonal Regulation of Photosynthetic Enzymes in Cotton under Water Stress

Activities of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), and carbonic anhydrase (CA) were determined in leaves of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. H-777) subjected to 8-d waterlogging (WL) at the vegetative stage, or to drought (D) at the reproductive stage, or to interaction of both stresses. The soil moisture of control plants was kept at field capacity. One day prior to stress various growth hormones (5 μM) were sprayed up to runoff. WL reduced RuBPCO and CA activities, while PEPC activity increased. Upon D, RuBPCO and PEPC activities were reduced while CA activity was increased. Imposition of both stresses increased activities of all three enzymes. Effect of stresses on enzyme activity was alleviated by benzylaminopurine (BAP), but indol-3-yl-acetic acid was more promoting under interactive stress. No CA activity with BAP was observed during interactive stress. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

转CBF_1基因棉花的耐旱生理研究

以转CBF_1基因棉花及其野生型棉花为材料,设置轻度(900 mL)、中度(400 mL)、重度(300 mL)和对照(1 200mL)浇水处理的不同干旱胁迫和复水处理,考察各种处理后对盆栽植株不同部位叶片光合性能和离体叶片在暗处理条件下叶绿素含量的变化,以及在大田苗期、蕾期、花期、铃期断水胁迫对棉花产量的影响,为转基因抗旱棉花新品种的培育提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)在盆栽试验中,随着干旱胁迫时间的延长和复水3d处理,各浇水处理的转基因和野生型棉花叶片净光合速率(P_n)、原初光能转化效率(F_v/F_m)表现出先降低后增加的变化趋势,受到胁迫后对顶部叶片的影响比中部叶片大,且转基因棉花叶片保留数量显著高于野生型棉花;它们的离体叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b的含量随着干旱胁迫时间的延长而逐渐下降,但转基因棉花的下降速率显著低于野生型棉花。(2)在田间试验的苗期、蕾期、花期、铃期干旱胁迫下,各干旱胁迫处理的转基因植株的皮棉产量、衣分、种子质量、株高均显著高于野生型棉花;转基因棉花的籽棉产量分别比正常灌溉处理降低了78.4%、55.1%、12.7%、8.3%,野生型棉花则分别降低了80.4%、55.4%、19.2%、14.4%,不同时期的水分胁迫严重影响了棉花籽棉产量,但是转基因棉花的籽棉产量显著高于野生型棉花。研究认为,在不同干旱胁迫条件下,转CBF_1基因棉花表现出优良的生长和生理优势,可提高棉花的耐旱性。     

Photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange during ex vitro acclimation of tobacco plants as affected by CO2 supply and abscisic acid

Nicotiana tabacum L. plantlets were grown in glass vessels or in Magenta boxes with better CO₂ supply. To improve the ex vitro transfer we tested application of abscisic acid and elevated CO₂ concentration. In the first two weeks after transfer, net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll a+b content, and Chl a/b ratio were higher, and content of xanthophyll cycle pigments lower in M-plants than in G-plants, but during further growth the differences almost disappeared. ABA application alleviated the risk of wilting because it decreased stomatal conductance. The effect of ABA was enhanced under CE (28 days after transfer). In situ, P_N was always higher at CE than at CA, but when measured under CA, positive effect of CE was found 2 and 16 days after transfer in M-plants and only 16 days after transfer in G-plants. Slightly increased Chl a content was found in all ABA-treated plants, and in M-plants grown under CE. The content of xanthophyll cycle pigments was lower under CE compared to CA, and the lowest one was found in ABA-treated M-plants grown under CE. On the contrary, the degree of their deepoxidation (DEPS) was slightly higher in plants grown under CE. No significant effects of ABA-treatment or growth under CE on fluorescence kinetic parameters were found and inconsistent effects on photochemical activities. The photochemical efficiency of PS2 (variable to maximum fluorescence ratio, F_v/F_m) after ex vitro transfer was similar to that in in vitro grown plants. This together with the values of DEPS indicated that no photodamage during ex vitro transfer occurred. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of nitrogen supply restriction on gas exchange and photosystem 2 function in flag leaves of a traditional low-yield cultivar and a recently improved high-yield cultivar of rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

The effects of nitrogen (N) supply restriction on the CO₂ assimilation and photosystem 2 (PS2) function of flag leaves were compared between two contrastive Japanese rice cultivars, a low-yield cultivar released one century ago, cv. Shirobeniya (SRB), and a recently improved high-yield cultivar, cv. Akenohoshi (AKN). Both cultivars were solution-cultured at four N supply levels from N4 (control) to N1 (the lowest). With a reduction in N-supply, contents of N (LNC), ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO), and chlorophyll (Chl) in flag leaves decreased in both cultivars. In parallel with this, the net photosynthetic rate (P _N), mesophyll conductance (g _m), and stomatal conductance (g _s) decreased. P _N was more dominantly restricted by g _m than g _s. The values of P _N, g _m, and RuBPCO content were larger in AKN than SRB at the four N supply levels. The content of Chl greatly decreased with N deficiency, but the reduction in the maximum quantum yield of PS2 was relatively small. Quantum yield of PS2 (Φ_PS2) decreased with N deficiency, and its significant cultivar difference was observed between the two cultivars at N1: a high value was found in AKN. The content ratio of Chl/RuBPCO was also significantly low in AKN. The low Chl/RuBPCO is one of the reasons why AKN maintained a comparatively high P _N and Φ_PS2 at N deficiency. The adequate ratio of N distribution between Chl and RuBPCO is the important prerequisite for the efficient and sustainable photosynthesis in a flag leaf of rice plant under low N-input.     

Drought acclimation of two deciduous tree species of different layers in a temperate forest canopy

Water-use strategies of Populus tremula and Tilia cordata, and the role of abscisic acid in these strategies, were analysed. P. tremula dominated in the overstorey and T. cordata in the lower layer of the tree canopy of the temperate deciduous forest canopy. Shoot water potential (), bulk-leaf abscisic acid concentration ([ABA]_leaf), abscisic acid concentration in xylem sap ([ABA]_xyl), and rate of stomatal closure following the supply of exogenous ABA (v) decreased acropetally through the whole tree canopy, and foliar water content per area (w), concentration of the leaf osmoticum (c), maximum leaf-specific hydraulic conductance of shoot (L), stomatal conductance (g_s), and the threshold dose per leaf area of the exogenous ABA (d_a) required to reduce stomatal conductance increased acropetally through the tree canopy (from the base of the foliage of T. cordata to the top of the foliage of P. tremula) in non-stressed trees. The threshold dose per leaf dry mass of the exogenous ABA (d_w) required to reduce stomatal conductance, was similar through the tree canopy. After a drought period (3 weeks), the , w, L, g_s, d_a and d_w had decreased, and c and v had increased in both species. Yet, the effect of the drought period was more pronounced on L, g_s, d_a, d_w and v in T. cordata, and on , w and c in P. tremula. It was concluded that the water use of the species of the lower canopy layer—T. cordata, is more conservative than that of the species of the overstorey, P. tremula. [ABA]_leaf had not been significantly changed in these trees, and [ABA]_xyl had increased during the drought period only in P. tremula. The relations between [ABA]_leaf, [ABA]_xyl and the stomatal conductance, the osmotic adjustment and the shoot hydraulic conductance are also discussed.     

Photosynthetic responses of radish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Raphanus sativus</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">longipinnatus</Emphasis>) plants to infection by turnip mosaic virus

Plant growth, chlorophyll (Chl) content, photosynthetic gas exchange, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPCO) enzyme activity, and Chl fluorescence in radish (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus) plants were examined after turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) infection. Plant fresh mass, dry mass, Chl content, net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (g _s), and RuBPCO activity were significantly lower in infected plants after 5 weeks of virus infection as compared to healthy plants. The 5-week virus infection did not induce significant differences in intercellular CO₂ concentration (C _i, photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2, PS2 (F_v/F_m), excitation capture efficiency of open PS2 reaction centres (F_v'/F_m'), effective quantum efficiency of photosystem 2 (ΔF/F_m'), and photochemical quenching (q_P), but non-photochemical quenching (q_N) and alternative electron sink (AES) were significantly enhanced. Thus the decreased plant biomass of TuMV-infected plants might be associated with the decreased photosynthetic activity mainly due to reduced RuBPCO activity.     

Photosynthetic Characteristics of Two New Chlorophyll b-Less Rice Mutants

Two yellow rice mutants VG28-1 and VG30-5 were obtained during the tissue culture process from a rice plant (cv. Zhonghua No.11 japonica) with inserted maize Ds transposon element. Absorption spectra and pigment composition showed that two mutants had no chlorophyll (Chl) b and lower Chl a content in comparison to the wild type (WT). Net photosynthetic rate (P _N), total electron transport rate (J_F), photochemical quenching (q_p), quantum yield of PS2 dependent non-cyclic electron transport (_PS2), fraction of P_rate, and leaf area were lower but F_v/F_m and apparent quantum yield (AQY) remained at similar levels as in the WT plant. Xanthophyll cycle pool size (V+A+Z) on a Chl basis, and de-epoxidation state were enhanced in the mutants. The mutants had larger amounts of soluble protein and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO), especially the small subunit of RuBPCO, than WT. The characteristics of two rice mutants differed somewhat from the other common Chl b-less mutants originating from mutagenic agent treatments.     

Changes of Photosynthetic Characteristics in Relation to Leaf Senescence in Two Maize Hybrids with Different Senescent Appearance

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the changes in chlorophyll (Chl) and nitrogen (N) contents, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) contents and PEPC activity, and the photon-saturated net photosynthetic rate (P _Nsat), and their relationships with leaf senescence in two maize hybrids with different senescent appearance. One stay-green (cv. P3845) and one earlier senescent (cv. Hokkou 55) hybrid were used in this study, and we found that Chl and N contents and the P _Nsat in individual leaves of P3845 were greater than those in corresponding leaves of Hokkou 55 at the successive growth stages. In addition, larger contents of RuBPCO and PEPC, and a greater activity of PEPC were observed in P3845. Due to the lower rates of decrease of Chl, RuBPCO, and PEPC amounts per unit of N, and the lower net C translocation rate per unit of N in the stay-green hybrid, leaf senescence was delayed in comparison to the earlier senescent hybrid.     

Effect of Benzylaminopurine on Rehydration of Bean Plants after Water Stress

The possibility of improving the recovery of plant photosynthesis after water stress by cytokinin-induced stimulation of stomatal opening or delay of leaf senescence was tested. The 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) in concentrations 1 and 10 M was applied to the substrate (sand + nutrient solution) or sprayed on primary leaves of 14-d-old Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants sufficiently supplied with water or water-stressed for 4 d. The later ones having relative water content decreased to 69 % were fully rehydrated during the following three days. Parameters of photosynthesis and water relations were measured in primary leaves of 7-, 10-, 14-, and 17-d-old plants. Application of 1 M BAP slightly delayed leaf senescence: in 17-d-old control plants, net photosynthetic rate (P_N) and chlorophyll (Chl) content, and when sprayed on leaves also some of Chl a fluorescence kinetic parameters of BAP-treated leaves were slightly higher than those of untreated leaves. Both types of application of 1 M BAP slightly improved recovery of plants during rehydration after water stress in terms of increased g_ad, g_ab and P_N, i.e., parameters which were markedly decreased by mild water stress. However, contents of Chl a, Chl b and carotenoids and parameters of Chl a fluorescence kinetic were not markedly affected by mild water stress and after rehydration were not stimulated by 1 M BAP. 10 M BAP had mostly negative effects on the parameters measured.     

Effect of Growth Regulators on Photosynthesis, Transpiration and Related Parameters in Water Stressed Cotton

Gas exchange in Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. H-777 as affected by water deficit and growth regulators (IAA, GA₃, BAP, ABA, ethrel) was examined. Sixty days after sowing, growth regulators in concentration 50 µM were applied as foliar spray and irrigation was withheld to get desired (moderate and severe) water deficit. All the parameters were measured on the third leaf from the top between 10:00 and 11:00. Net photosynthetic rate (P_N), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (g_s), carboxylation efficiency (CE), and water potential (_w) decreased significantly with the increasing water stress, however, water use efficiency (WUE) was unaffected. Foliar spray with IAA, GA₃ and BAP partially counteracted the effect of water deficit on the above parameters except _w, which became more negative. ABA and up to some extent ethrel increased WUE and maintained higher _w, however, caused further decrease in P_N, E, and g_s.     

Effect of Growth Regulators on Photosynthetic Metabolites in Cotton under Water Stress

The contents of several photosynthetic metabolites — 3-phosphoglyceric acid (3-PGA), pyruvate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) — were determined in leaves of cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. H-777) subjected to waterlogging at vegetative stage, and/or drought at the reproductive stage. In controls, soil moisture contents was kept at field capacity. One day prior to stress, the plant shoots were sprayed with 5 M aqueous solution of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA₃), benzylaminopurine (BAP), abscisic acid, and ethrel. In control plants, various growth regulators reduced contents of 3-PGA and ATP while increased contents of NADP and pyruvate. During waterlogging IAA promoted 3-PGA content, and BAP enhanced pyruvate content. During drought, GA₃ enhanced ATP and 3-PGA contents, while IAA enhanced pyruvate content.     

Effects of growth regulators on the induction of Crassulacean acid metabolism in the facultative halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.

The classical induction of Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) in Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. by water stress is observed within one week when fourto five-week-old plants (grown under a 16/8 h photoperiod at ca. 600 mol quanta · m^–2 · s^–1) are irrigated with 350 mM NaCl. The induction of CAM was evaluated by measuring phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCase, EC 4.1.1.31) and NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME, EC 4.1.1.82) activities and nocturnal increases in malate content and titratable acidity of leaf extracts, and the daily pattern of CO₂ exchange and stomatal conductance during the 7-d induction period. Three growth regulators, abscisic acid (ABA), farnesol (an antitranspirant and analog of ABA), and benzylaminopurine (BAP), were found to substitute for NaCl for induction of CAM when fed to plants in nutrient media. Daily irrigation with solutions containing micromolar levels (optimum ca. 10 micromolar) of these growth regulators led to the induction of CAM similar to that by high salt. Application of the growth regulators, like NaCl, caused large increases in the activity of NADP-ME and the activity and level of PEPCase, which are components of the biochemical machinery required for CAM. Western immunoblotting showed that the increased activity of PEPCase on addition of ABA, farnesol and BAP was mainly due to increased levels of the CAM-specific isoforms. Also, dehydration of cut leaves over 8.5 h under light resulted in a severalfold increase in PEPCase activity. An equivalent increase in PEPCase activity in excised leaves was also obtained by feeding 150 mM NaCl, or micromolar levels of ABA or BAP via the petiole, which supports results obtained by feeding the growth regulators to roots. However, the increase in PEPCase activity was inhibited by feeding high levels of BAP to cut leaves prior to dehydration, indicating a more complex response to the cytokinin. Abscisic acid may have a role in induction of CAM in M. crystallinum under natural conditions as there is previous evidence that induction by NaCl causes an increase in the content of ABA, but not cytokinins, in leaves of this species.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - CAM Crassulacean acid metabolism - Chl chlorophyll - 2,4D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - NADP-ME NADP-malic enzyme - PEPCase phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase Methyl jasmonate was generously provided by Dr. Vincent Franceschi (Botany Department, Washington State University). The anti-maize leaf PEPCase was kindly supplied by Dr. Tatsuo Sugiyama (Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Nagoya University, Japan) and the anti-Flaveria trinervia leaf PEPCase was kindly supplied by Dr. Samuel Sun (Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, University of Hawaii, Honulu). This work was funded in part by U.S. Department of Agriculture Competitive Grant 90-37280-5706 and an equipment grant (DMB 8515521) from the National Science Foundation. Ziyu Dai was supported in part by Guangxi Agricultural College and Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China     

Effects of Nitrogen Deficiency on Gas Exchange,Chlorophyll Fluorescence,and Antioxidant Enzymes in Leaves of Rice Plants

Gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, and contents of photosynthetic pigments, soluble proteins (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, RuBPCO), and antioxidant enzymes were characterized in the fully expanded 6^th leaves in rice seedlings grown on either complete (CK) or on nitrogen-deficient nutrient (N-deficiency) solutions during a 20-chase period. Compared with the control plants, the lower photosynthetic capacity at saturation irradiance (P _max) was accompanied by an increase in intercellular CO₂ concentration (C_i), indicating that in N-deficient plants the decline in P _max was not due to stomatal limitation but due to the reduced carboxylation efficiency. The fluorescence parameters _PS2, F_v/F_m, electron transport rate (ETR), and q_P showed the same tendency as P _max in N-deficient plants. Correspondingly, a higher q_N paralleled the rise of the ratio of carotenoid (Car) to Chl contents. However, F_v/F_m was still diminished, suggesting that photoinhibition did occur in the photosystem 2 (PS2) reaction centres. In addition, the activities of antioxidant enzymes on a fresh mass basis were gradually lowered, leading to the aggravation of membrane lipid peroxidation with the proceeding N-deficiency. The accumulation of malonyldialdehyde resulted in the lessening of Chl and soluble protein content. Analyses of regression showed PS2 excitation pressure (1 - q_P) was linearly correlated with the content of Chl and inversely with soluble protein (particularly RuBPCO) content. There was a lag phase in the increase of PS2 excitation pressure compared to the decrease of RuBPCO content. Therefore, the increased excitation pressure under N-deficiency is probably the result of saturation of the electron transport chain due to the limitation of the use of reductants by the Calvin cycle. Rice plants responded to N-deficiency and high irradiance by decreasing light-harvesting capacity and by increasing thermal dissipation of absorbed energy.     

干旱胁迫与复水对块根紫金牛生理特性的影响

以岩溶特有药用植物块根紫金牛为试材,研究土壤水分胁迫及复水条件下其叶片光合参数、相对含水量、质膜透性、渗透调节物质含量的变化特性。结果表明:水分胁迫下,块根紫金牛的叶片净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率均几乎接近零点,但胞间CO2浓度上升,即非气孔因素限制是光合速率下降的主要原因。水分胁迫不影响块根紫金牛单位面积的总叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量,但干旱处理的Chl a/b和Car/Chl分别显著低于和高于对照。水分胁迫下,块根紫金牛的叶片相对含水量、相对电导率和丙二醛含量显著增大,即膜系统受到一定的伤害;块根紫金牛叶片脯氨酸含量显著降低,可溶性蛋白含量无显著变化,可溶性糖含量显著增大,但增大幅度不大,说明其在干旱胁迫下的渗透调节能力较弱。复水处理后,块根紫金牛全部指标均能恢复到对照水平,说明其对干旱胁迫较为敏感,主要采取避旱策略。     

Photosynthetic Characteristics,Dark Respiration,and Leaf Mass Per Unit Area in Seedlings of Four Tropical Tree Species Grown Under Three Irradiances

We investigated the effect of growth irradiance (I) on photon-saturated photosynthetic rate (P _max), dark respiration rate (R _D), carboxylation efficiency (CE), and leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in seedlings of the following four tropical tree species with contrasting shade-tolerance. Anthocephalus chinensis (Rubiaceae) and Linociera insignis (Oleaceae) are light-demanding, Barringtonia macrostachya (Lecythidaceae) and Calophyllum polyanthum (Clusiaceae) are shade-tolerant. Their seedlings were pot-planted under shading nets with 8, 25, and 50 % daylight for five months. With increase of I, all species displayed the trends of increases of LMA, photosynthetic saturation irradiance, and chlorophyll-based P _max, and decreases of chlorophyll (Chl) content on both area and mass bases, and mass-based P _max, R _D, and CE. The area-based P _max and CE increased with I for the light-demanders only. Three of the four species significantly increased Chl-based CE with I. This indicated the increase of nitrogen (N) allocation to carboxylation enzyme relative to Chl with I. Compared to the two shade-tolerants, under the same I, the two light-demanders had greater area- and Chl-based P _max, photosynthetic saturation irradiance, lower Chl content per unit area, and greater plasticity in LMA and area- or Chl-based P _max. Our results support the hypothesis that light-demanding species is more plastic in leaf morphology and physiology than shade-tolerant species, and acclimation to I of tropical seedlings is more associated with leaf morphological adjustment relative to physiology. Leaf nitrogen partitioning between photosynthetic enzymes and Chl also play a role in the acclimation to I.     

Stomatal Reactions of Two Different Maize Lines to Osmotically Induced Drought Stress

Two maize lines differing in drought resistance were grown at different drought stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG 10 000) solutions with osmotic potentials of –0.20, –0.40 and –0.80 MPa in the semipermeable membrane system. During the five days soil water content decreased (from 0.43 to 0.29, 0.25 and 0.23 g cm^–3 for three PEG solutions, respectively) as well as leaf water potentials (_w; from – 0.54 to –0.76, –1.06 and –1.46 MPa). These values were not significantly different between the investigated lines, indicating that a controlled and consistent soil moisture stress was achieved. Soil drying induced an increase in the ABA content of leaves and xylem of both lines and the effects on stomatal conductance were greater in drought susceptible line (B-432) compared to drought resistant line (ZPBL-1304). To test possible difference in stomatal sensitivity to xylem ABA between lines and to assess any ABA vs. _w interaction, roots were fed with 10, 50 and 100 mmol m^–3 ABA solutions in another set of experiments. These results showed that manipulation of xylem ABA affected stomata of both lines similarly. Comparison of stomatal sensitivity to drought-induced and applied ABA demonstrated that drought treatment affected stomata of investigated lines by differentially increasing their sensitivity to xylem ABA, thus confirming an interaction between chemical signalling and hydraulic signalling.     

Photosynthetic Activity of Ripening Tomato Fruit

Gas exchanges, chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence and carboxylation activities of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) were determined in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruits picked at different developmental stages (immature, red-turning, mature, and over-ripe). The fruits did not show signs of CO₂ fixation. However, photochemical activity was detectable and an effective electron transport was observed, the values of Chl fluorescence parameters in green fruits being similar to those determined in the leaves. The RuBPCO activity, which was similar to those recorded in the leaves at the immature stage of the fruit, decreased as the fruit ripened. PEPC activity was always higher than RuBPCO activity.     

不同干旱处理刺槐、侧柏光合特性与内源脱落酸含量的相关关系

为揭示干旱介导植物光合同化能力的内源脱落酸(ABA)调控机制,以北京地区典型树种刺槐和侧柏为研究对象,探讨土壤快速干旱-复水(T1)和慢速干旱-复水(T2)处理下,树木碳同化与ABA器官分配模式间相关关系。结果表明:(1)刺槐与侧柏在T1和T2干旱处理阶段的净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(G_s)、蒸腾速率(T_r)均随土壤体积含水量(SWC)下降显著降低(P<0.05)。T1两树种P_n降幅(99.18%和57.30%)大于T2(91.97%和36.69%),且T1、T2刺槐P_n、G_s降幅均大于侧柏。T1和T2旱后复水阶段,T1两树种P_n、G_s恢复程度大于T2,刺槐光合能力恢复至胁迫处理前水平,而侧柏仅部分恢复。(2)T1和T2两树种叶片、小枝、粗根、细根ABA均随SWC下降显著上升(P<0.05),且T2两树种全株ABA上升幅度(21.21%和26.01%)均大于T1(13.71%和8.91%)。T1和T2两树种粗根在旱后复水阶段ABA显著低于干旱阶段,其它器官ABA均维持干旱阶段水平。(3)探究两树种光合特性与ABA相关关系随土壤水分变化的规律发现,T1和T2处理下两树种光合参数与ABA含量呈显著负相关(P<0.05)。SWC下降速度越慢,两树种光合参数与器官ABA协同变化程度越高,且刺槐光合、ABA两者相关系数高于侧柏。综上所述,光合参数、器官ABA含量变幅及其二者相互关系程度均显著受到土壤干旱节律的影响作用,且存在种间特异性。研究旨在揭示植物应对不同干旱胁迫的碳同化与内源激素调控响应机制,为区域城市园林耐旱林木的选培与管理提供理论参考。     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">ABI2</Emphasis>-dependent abscisic acid signalling controls HrpN-induced drought tolerance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis>

HrpN, a protein produced by the plant pathogenic bacterium Erwinia amylovora, has been shown to stimulate plant growth and resistance to pathogens and insects. Here we report that HrpN activates abscisic acid (ABA) signalling to induce drought tolerance (DT) in Arabidopsis thaliana L. plants grown with water stress. Spraying wild-type plants with HrpN-promoted stomatal closure decreased leaf transpiration rate, increased moisture and proline levels in leaves, and alleviated extents of damage to cell membranes and plant drought symptoms caused by water deficiency. In plants treated with HrpN, ABA levels increased; expression of several ABA-signalling regulatory genes and the important effector gene rd29B was induced or enhanced. Induced expression of rd29B, promotion of stomatal closure, and reduction in drought severity were observed in the abi1-1 mutant, which has a defect in the phosphatase ABI1, after HrpN was applied. In contrast, HrpN failed to induce these responses in the abi2-1 mutant, which is impaired in the phosphatase ABI2. Inhibiting wild-type plants to synthesize ABA eliminated the role of HrpN in promoting stomatal closure and reducing drought severity. Moreover, resistance to Pseudomonas syringae developed in abi2-1 as in wild-type plants following treatment with HrpN. Thus, an ABI2-dependent ABA signalling pathway is responsible for the induction of DT but does not affect pathogen defence under the circumstances of this study.Hong-Ping Dong and Haiqin Yu contributed equally to this study and are regarded as joint first authors.