Effect of Anoxia on Carbohydrate Metabolism in Rice Seedlings

The metabolism of carbohydrates was investigated in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings grown under anoxia. Two phases can be recognized in the utilization of carbohydrates: during the first days of germination under anoxia, the metabolism of sugars is mainly degradative, whereas after the induction of [alpha]-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) has taken place, the increased presence of glucose and sucrose indicates that both starch degradation and sucrose synthesis operate. The analysis of the enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism indicates that anoxic rice seedlings possess a set of enzymes that allow the efficient metabolism of starch and sucrose to fructose-6-phosphate. We propose that cytosolic sucrose metabolism in anoxic rice seedlings takes place mainly through a sucrose synthase (EC 2.4.1.13) pathway with nucleoside diphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.6), allowing the cycling of urydilates needed for the operation of this pathway.     

Oxygen Release from Rice Seedlings

Oxygen release from root systems of individual rice seedlings was measured polarographically employing an oxygen monitor with a Clark electrode. The oxidizing capacity of four rice varieties was correlated with their relative yielding abilities and with their reactions to Straighthead (SH) and Mild Sulfide Disease (MSD). These data support previous findings which link SH and MSD with rice-toxic levels of soluble sulfides in Gulf Coast (U.S.A.) rice soils containing excess iron.     

脱硫废弃物对盐碱地水稻活性氧代谢的影响

以'96-D10'水稻品种为材料,测定了不同脱硫废弃物施用量下盐碱地水稻不同生育期的抗氧化酶活性及膜脂过氧化指标的变化,以探讨脱硫废弃物对水稻生长影响的生理机制及脱硫废弃物对盐碱地改良的效果.结果表明,随着脱硫废弃物施用量的增加,水稻各生育期叶片和根系丙二醛(MDA)含量、细胞质膜相对透性、超氧阴离子自由基(t/hm2脱硫废弃物施用量处理在水稻整个生育期内抗氧化保护酶的活性最高,而活性氧的含量和膜脂过氧化作用最低.研究发现,施用22.5 t/hm2脱硫废弃物能够显著提高盐碱地水稻植株不同生育期保护酶活性,减少体内活性氧过量累积,从而增强其耐盐性.     

Carbohydrate Metabolism in the Developing Endosperm of Rice Grains

The metabolism of carbohydrates in developing rice endospermwas characterized by a comparison of levels of activities of33 major enzymes between the endosperm and green leaves of rice.Activities of ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase, starch synthaseand branching enzyme (Q-en-zyme), compared on the basis of solubleprotein content, were markedly higher in endosperm than in greenleaves. The high levels of Q-enzyme may be responsible for theefficient production of starch in the rice endosperm. The measurementof levels of metabolic intermediates and the localization ofkey enzymes in isolated amyloplasts from rice endosperm supportthe view that sucrose is metabolized in the cytoplasm via thepathway: sucroseUDPglucosehexose-PFBPtriose-P. Triose-P thenenters the amyloplast, where it is converted to G1P via FBPand, finally, G1P is converted to starch by the concerted reactionsof ADPglucose pyrophosphorylase, starch synthase and Q-enzyme. ¹Present address: Yamagata Prefectural Agricultural Experi mentStation, Minorigaoka, Yamagata, 990-02 Japan. ²Present address: Institute of Biological Sciences, The University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Science City, Ibaraki, 305 Japan. (Received February 15, 1989; Accepted June 10, 1989)     

蓝光对水稻幼苗碳水化合物和蛋白质代谢的调节

分别以白光和黑暗处理为对照,蓝光处理１０ｄ的水稻幼苗碳水化合物含量下降,蛋白质含量增加,亚胺环已酮可抑制蓝光引起的蛋白质含量增加。蓝光处理的水稻幼苗总氨基酸含量比白光和黑暗处理分别提高１２％和３６％,游离态Ｇｌｕ、Ａｓｐ含量也比对照增加。蓝光处理促进水稻幼苗的呼吸作用,对丙酮酸激酶、硝酸还原酶、谷氨酰胺合成酶、谷氨酸合酶和转氨酶的活性表现出一致的促进效应。     

Oxygen Diffusion from the Roots of Rice Grown under Non-waterlogged Conditions

Three rice varieties, cv. Norin 36, cv. Norin 37 and cv. Yubae, were grown in a loam with a 20 cm water-table which gave aerobic conditions to a depth of not less than 15 to 17 cm. Under these conditions Norin 36 grew more vigorously and tillered more frequently than the other two varieties. The rates of oxygen diffusion at 23°C from roots up to 11 cm in length were however appreciably lower for Norin 36 (4.3 × 10^?8g · cm^?2 of root surface · min^?1) than for Norin 37 or Yubae (c. 7.8 × 10^?8g). A considerable increase (up to 200 %) in the oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) from the roots occurred if they were cooled to 3°C, and at this temperature differences in ODR between the varieties were not significant. For a purely physical system, because of the decrease in the diffusion coefficient of oxygen in water, and, the increase in oxygen solubility, a drop of c. 20 % in ODR should accompany the above 20°C drop in temperature. A 16 % drop was recorded for artificial ‘roots’ under these conditions. It was concluded that respiratory activity at the higher temperature must have been responsible for the low readings and intervarietal differences observed at 23°C. By increasing the 3°C values by 25 % a mean value of 14.2 × 10^?8g · cm^?2 of root surface · min^?1 was recorded for the three varieties, being the probable ODR at 23°C in the absence of a respiratory factor. Calculations show that respiratory activity removed enough oxygen to reduce the ODR for Norin 36 by more than 9 × 10^?8g, and for Norin 37 and Yubae by c. 6.7 × 10^?8g · cm^?2 of root surface · min^?1. Anatomical investigations showed that cortical breakdown was always extensive at 4 to 4.5 cm from the apex of the roots. In some cases however breakdown had not occurred in the basal segment of the root. No opinion could be formed as to whether differences in the amount of cortical breakdown between the varieties might have occasioned the respiratory differences observed. An interesting feature of the root anatomy was the failure of breakdown in those regions of the roots through which lateral roots emerged.     

水稻幼苗的低温伤害及其与腺苷酸代谢的关系

抗寒性强的早二六14和抗寒性弱的二九丰水稻幼苗,经2～4℃低温处理后,细胞膜透性增加,质膜ATPase水解活性大大提高,而线粒体ATPase磷酸化活性和丙酮酸激酶活性明显下降。从而导致腺苷酸水平尤其是ATP水平急剧下降,能荷值降低.幼苗低温处理4d后回到30℃,早二六14能很快转绿恢复生长,二九丰不能转绿,逐渐死亡。这时,腺苷酸水平及其上升幅度表现出前者高于后者。腺苷酸代谢的失调可能是水稻幼苗低温伤害的一个重要原因。     

The Relationship Between Growth and Oxygen Uptake in Hypoxic Rice Seedlings

Atwell, B. J. and Green way, H. 1987. The relationship betweengrowth and oxygen uptake in hypoxic rice seedlings.—J.exp. Bot. 38: 454–465. Rice seedlings (Oryza saliva L.) were grown in the dark forup to 4 d in solutions containing various concentrations ofO₂. Compared with seedlings grown at 0·250 mol O₂ m^–3,the dry weight of the growing seedling was 14% lower at 0·110mol O₂ m^–3 and 60% lower at 0 mol O₂ m^–3. Decreasesin fresh weight were similar but not identical to decreasesin dry weight, possibly because leaf growth was suppressed evenabove 0·110 mol O₂ m^–3. Oxygen deficiency inhibitedroot growth more severely than coleoptile growth. Coleoptiles from seedlings grown in aerated solution were exposedto an atmosphere of pure N₂ for 30 min. Anoxia caused a declinein ATP content and energy charge, suggestive of decreased oxidativephosphorylation. It is not clear whether the decline in oxidativephosphorylation was solely responsible for impaired growth inhypoxia. In seedlings growing at O₂ concentrations less than 0·110mol O₂ m^–3, significant amounts of ethanol were synthesized.The rate of O₂ uptake decreased markedly below 0·06 molO₂ m^–3; this was presumably near the external O₂ concentrationat which oxidative phosphorylation became limited by the supplyof O₂. The stage of development of the seedlings appeared toinfluence O₂ uptake, possibly through changes in conductanceof the tissue to O₂. Uncouplers were used to confirm that thecritical O₂ concentration was dependent on O₂ diffusion ratherthan enzyme kinetics. Impaired growth above 0·110 molO₂ m^–3 may have been due to a decreased activity of oxygenasesof relatively low affinity for O₂, which in turn altered cellmetabolism. Key words: Growth, oxygen uptake, rice seedlings, hypoxia     

Metabolism of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid in Etiolated Maize Seedlings Grown under Mechanical Impedance

We investigated the metabolism of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in etiolated maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings subjected to mechanical impedance by applying pressure to the growing medium. Total concentrations of ACC varied little in unimpeded seedlings, but impeded organs accumulated ACC. Roots had consistently higher concentrations of ACC than shoots or seeds, regardless of treatment. The concentration of ACC in the roots increased more than 100% during the first hour of treatment irrespective of the pressure applied; in shoots, total ACC concentration increased 46% at either low or high pressure during the first hour of treatment. The bulk of ACC synthesized under impeded and unimpeded conditions was present in a conjugated form, presumably, 1-(malonylamino)-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid. However, 1-(malonylamino)-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid increased 73% over controls after 10 hours at 25 kilopascals of pressure. Unimpeded tissue had about 77% ACC as the conjugate and 17% as free ACC, and less than 6% was used in ethylene production. Increased amounts of ACC were converted into ethylene under stress. In vivo ACC synthase activity in roots became six and seven times higher only 1 hour after initiation of treatment at 25 and 100 kilopascals of pressure, respectively, and remained high for at least 6 hours. However, the immediate and massive conjugation of mechanically induced ACC suggests that ACC N-malonyltransferase may play an important role in the regulation of mechanically induced ethylene production. After 8 hours, in vivo activity of the ethylene-forming enzyme complex increased 100 and 50% above normal level at 100 and 25 kilopascals, respectively. Furthermore, ethylene-forming enzyme complex activity was significantly greater at 100 kilopascals than in controls as early as 1 hour after treatment initiation. These data suggest that regulation of ethylene production under mechanical impedance involves the concerted action of ACC synthase, the ethylene-forming enzyme complex, and ACC N-malonyltransferase.     

Sugar Accumulation in Barley and Rice Grown in Solutions with low Concentrations of Oxygen

Barley and rice, at the early tillering stage, were grown inaerated nutrient solutions (> 7 mg O₂ l^–1) and transferredto solutions of low O₂ concentrations (< 0.5 mg l ^–1). For barley, low O₂ concentrations during the first 5 days severelyinhibited growth of seminal roots had less effect on nodal roots,and did not reduce shoot growth. Longer exposure to low O₂ concentrationsreduced shoot as well as root growth. Sugar concentrations inroots and shoots increased within 7 h after transfer of plantsto low O₂ concentrations. After 5 days at low O₂ concentrationssugar concentrations were very high in fast growing nodal rootsand in shoots, as well as in the slower growing seminal roots. In rice, low O₂ concentrations increased sugar levels of rootsduring summer, but not during winter. In summer, the highersugar levels at low O₂ concentrations persisted throughout adiurnal cycle. In root apices, sugar concentrations were increasedby low O₂ concentrations, even though the experiment was donein winter and the bulk of the root system showed no differencein sugar levels. The data indicate that sugar accumulation, at low O₂ concentrations,is caused by reduced growth and also that even apices of rootsgrown at low O₂ concentrations have sufficient substrates forrespiration. Hordeum vulgare L, barley, Oryza sativa L, rice, sugar accumulation, oxygen concentration     

Cr(VI) Imposed Toxicity in Maize Seedlings Assessed in Terms of Disruption in Carbohydrate Metabolism

The present study examined the toxic effects of Cr(VI; 100, 250 and 500 μM) in maize seedlings by investigating the changes in carbohydrate metabolism after 48, 96, and 144 h of exposure. Cr-stress results in severe alterations in the contents of carbohydrates and reducing sugars and the activities of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, amylases, phosphatases and phosphorylases, and invertases in maize seedlings. Under Cr stress, the contents of carbohydrates and reducing sugars declined in roots, whereas an increase was noticed in leaves. The catalytic activity of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes, except invertases, in roots declined in the presence of Cr(VI) in a concentration- and exposure time-dependent manner. In contrast, the activities of these enzymes were enhanced in leaves under Cr(VI) stress. The activity of invertases increased with increasing amount of Cr(VI) but declined with an increase in the time interval. In conclusion, our results show that carbohydrate metabolism is severely affected under Cr(VI) toxicity. The study suggests that Cr-induced perturbations in the carbohydrate metabolism are one of the factors resulting in growth inhibition under Cr(VI) stress.     

Effects of Iron and Manganese Plaques on Arsenic Uptake by Rice Seedlings (Oryza sativa L.) Grown in Solution Culture Supplied with Arsenateand Arsenite

We have shown previously that phosphorus nutrition and iron plaque on the surface of rice roots influence arsenate uptake and translocation by rice in hydroponic culture. We have now investigated the role of iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) plaque on arsenate and arsenite uptake and translocation in rice seedlings grown hydroponically. Fe and Mn plaques were clearly visible as reddish or brown coatings on the root surface after 12 h induction, and Fe plaque was much more apparent than Mn plaque. Arsenite or arsenate supply did not decrease plant dry weights significantly. There were significant differences in shoot dry weights but little difference in root dry weights between some plaque treatments. Arsenic (As) concentrations in Fe plaque when arsenate was supplied were significantly higher than those in no plaque (control) and Mn plaque treatments, and much higher than those supplied with arsenite. This showed that Fe plaque on the rice root had higher affinity to arsenate than to arsenite. In Fe plaque treatment, the results indicated that most As was sequestered in roots when arsenite was supplied and most As concentrated in Fe plaque when arsenate was supplied. Most As was accumulated in rice roots in Mn plaque and no plaque treatments for both As species.