Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and nodulation improve flooding tolerance in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pterocarpus officinalis</Emphasis> Jacq. seedlings

Pterocarpus officinalis (Jacq.) seedlings inoculated with the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus intraradices, and the strain of Bradyrhizobium sp. (UAG 11A) were grown under stem-flooded or nonflooded conditions for 13 weeks after 4 weeks of nonflooded pretreatment under greenhouse conditions. Flooding of P. officinalis seedlings induced several morphological and physiological adaptive mechanisms, including formation of hypertrophied lenticels and aerenchyma tissue and production of adventitious roots on submerged portions of the stem. Flooding also resulted in an increase in collar diameter and leaf, stem, root, and total dry weights, regardless of inoculation. Under flooding, arbuscular mycorrhizas were well developed on root systems and adventitious roots compared with inoculated root systems under nonflooding condition. Arbuscular mycorrhizas made noteworthy contributions to the flood tolerance of P. officinalis seedlings by improving plant growth and P acquisition in leaves. We report in this study the novel occurrence of nodules connected vascularly to the stem and nodule and arbuscular mycorrhizas on adventitious roots of P. officinalis seedlings. Root nodules appeared more efficient fixing N₂ than stem nodules were. Beneficial effect of nodulation in terms of total dry weight and N acquisition in leaves was particularly noted in seedlings growing under flooding conditions. There was no additive effect of arbuscular mycorrhizas and nodulation on plant growth and nutrition in either flooding treatment. The results suggest that the development of adventitious roots, aerenchyma tissue, and hypertrophied lenticels may play a major role in flooded tolerance of P. officinalis symbiosis by increasing oxygen diffusion to the submerged part of the stem and root zone, and therefore contribute to plant growth and nutrition.     

Aerenchyma formation in maize roots

Maize (Zea mays L.) is generally considered to be a plant with aerenchyma formation inducible by environmental conditions. In our study, young maize plants, cultivated in various ways in order to minimise the stressing effect of hypoxia, flooding, mechanical impedance or nutrient starvation, were examined for the presence of aerenchyma in their primary roots. The area of aerenchyma in the root cortex was correlated with the root length. Although 12 different maize accessions were used, no plants without aerenchyma were acquired until an ethylene synthesis inhibitor was employed. Using an ACC-synthase inhibitor, it was confirmed that the aerenchyma formation is ethylene-regulated and dependent on irradiance. The presence of TUNEL-positive nuclei and ultrastructural changes in cortical cells suggest a connection between ethylene-dependent aerenchyma formation and programmed cell death. Position of cells with TUNEL-positive nuclei in relation to aerenchyma-channels was described.     

Growth and ion relations in response to combined salinity and waterlogging in the perennial forage legumes Lotus corniculatus and Lotus tenuis

Lotus tenuis (Wadst. & Kit.) is a perennial legume widely grown for pasture in the flood-prone and salt affected Pampa region of Argentina. The physiology of salt and waterlogging tolerance in L. tenuis (four cultivars) was evaluated, and compared with Lotus corniculatus (three cultivars); the most widely cultivated Lotus species. Overall, L. tenuis cultivars accumulated less Na⁺ and Cl⁻, and more K⁺ in shoots than L. corniculatus cultivars, when exposed to 200 mM NaCl for 28 days in aerated or in stagnant solutions. Root porosity was higher in L. tenuis cultivars due to greater aerenchyma formation. In a NaCl dose–response experiment (0–400 mM NaCl in aerated solution), L. tenuis (cv. Chaja) accumulated half as much Cl⁻ in its shoots than L. corniculatus (cv. San Gabriel) at all external NaCl concentrations, and about 30% less shoot Na⁺ in treatments above 250 mM NaCl. Ion distributions in shoots were determined for plants at 200 mM NaCl. L. tenuis (cv. Chaja) again accumulated about half as much Cl⁻ in old leaves, young leaves and stems, compared with concentrations in L. corniculatus (cv. San Gabriel). There were not, however, significant differences between the two species for Na⁺ concentrations in the various shoot tissues. The higher root porosity, and maintenance of lower shoot Cl⁻ and Na⁺ concentrations in L. tenuis, compared with L. corniculatus, contributes to the greater tolerance to combined salt and waterlogging stress in L. tenuis. Moreover, significant variation for tolerance to combined salinity and waterlogging stress was identified within both L. tenuis and L. corniculatus.     

Different Effect of Humidity on Growth and Salt Tolerance of Two Soybean Cultivars

Two soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivars, Tachiyutaka and Dare, were grown in pots at 30 and 70 % relative humidity (RH) and treated with 0 (control), 40 (moderate), 80 and 120 (severe) mM NaCl for 3 weeks. Increasing RH enhanced growth of salt sensitive cultivar, Tachiyutaka, but had no effect on salt tolerant cultivar, Dare, under control and moderate saline conditions. Both cultivars benefited from elevated humidity under severe saline conditions. Cultivar Tachiyutaka had poorer ability for controlling translocation of Na⁺ to the leaves, lower Na⁺ exclusion ability in the roots, and lower root activity under NaCl treatment, compared with cv. Dare. The increased growth of cv. Tachiyutaka at high RH was consistent with decreased Na⁺ accumulation in the leaves, increased stomatal conductance and root activity, while the unchanged growth of cv. Dare was consistent with similar Na⁺ accumulation in the leaves, and the decreased root activity.     

Comparative effects of NaCl and polyethylene glycol on root distribution,growth, and stomatal conductance of sour orange seedlings

An experiment was conducted to study sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) seedling root density, distribution, and morphological development under NaCl and polyethylene glycol (PEG) stresses in relation to shoot growth and stomatal conductance. Plants were treated with 2 stress levels (– 0.12 and – 0.24 MPa) of NaCl and PEG 4000 for 7 months. Root observation chambers were used to monitor root growth and distribution under stressed and non-stressed conditions. Seedlings receiving NaCl or PEG treatments produced fewer roots and shallower root systems with 46 to 65% of the roots occurring in the top portion of the soil. Fibrous root weight per unit length was increased by 24 to 30% by PEG but was not significantly increased by NaCl.Root growth rate usually alternated with shoot growth in a 2-month cycle. This alternating pattern was not shifted by NaCl and PEG stresses. In all NaCl and PEG treatments, growth was depressed and stomatal conductance was reduced. Compared to controls, plants that received NaCl or PEG had smaller shoot and root dry weights, fewer leaves, shorter height, and fewer roots. Sodium chloride usually caused less damage than PEG to sour orange seedlings suggesting that NaCl and PEG acted through different mechanisms.Florida Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 9941.     

Relationship between morphological and physiological responses to waterlogging and salinity in Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth

The effects of waterlogging and salinity on morphological and physiological responses in the marsh grass Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth were investigated in a 4×2 factorial experiment. Plants were subjected to four salinity levels (0, 100, 200 and 400 mol m^–3 NaCl) and two soil inundation conditions (drained and flooded) for 42 days. Flooding at 0 mol m^–3 NaCl caused initiation of adventitious surface roots, increased internal acration and plant height, induced alcohol dehydrogenase activity (ADH), and decreased belowground biomass and the number of culms per plant. Salinity increase from 0 to 400 mol m^–3 NaCl under drained conditions increased leaf and root proline concentrations and decreased photosynthesis, aboveground biomass, number of culms per plant and number of internodes per culm. Concurrent waterlogging and salinity induced ADH activity and adventitious surface roots but decreased plant height and aboveground biomass. Internal air space increased with waterlogging from 0 to 100 mol m^–3 NaCl but further increases in salinity to 400 mol m^–3 reduced air space. Combined waterlogging and salinity stresses, however, had no effect on photosynthesis or on the concentrations of proline in leaves or roots. These results are discussed in relation to the widespread colonization by S. virginicus of a wide range of coastal environments varying in soil salinity and in the frequency and intensity of waterlogging.     

Stimulation of ethylene production and gas-space (aerenchyma) formation in adventitious roots of Zea mays L. by small partial pressures of oxygen

Adventitious roots of two to four-weekold intact plants of Zea mays L. (cv. LG11) were shorter but less dense after extending into stagnant, non-aerated nutrient solution than into solution continuously aerated with air. Dissolved oxygen in the non-aerated solutions decreased from 21 kPa to 3–9 kPa within 24 h. When oxygen partial pressures similar to those found in non-aerated solutions (3, 5 and 12 kPa) were applied for 7 d to root systems growing in vigorously bubbled solutions, the volume of gas-space in the cortex (aerenchyma) was increased several fold. This stimulation of aerenchyma was associated with faster ethylene production by 45-mm-long apical root segments. When ethylene production by roots exposed to 5 kPa oxygen was inhibited by aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) dissolved in the nutrient solution, aerenchyma formation was also retarded. The effect of AVG was reversible by concomitant applications of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, an immediate precursor of ethylene. Addition of silver nitrate, an inhibitor of ethylene action, to the nutrient solution also prevented the development of aerenchyma in roots given 5 kPa oxygen. Treating roots with only 1 kPa oxygen stimulated ethylene production but failed to promote gas-space formation. These severely oxygen-deficient roots seemed insensitive to the ethylene produced since a supplement of exogeneous ethylene that promoted aerenchyma development in nutrient solution aerated with air (21 kPa oxygen) failed to do so in nutrient solution supplied with 1 kPa oxygen. Both ethylene production and aerenchyma formation were almost completely halted when roots were exposed to nutrient solutions devoid of oxygen. Thus both processes require oxygen and are stimulated by oxygen-deficient surroundings in the 3-to 12-kPa range of oxygen partial pressures when compared with rates observed in air (21 kPa oxygen).Abbreviations ACC 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid - AVG aminoethoxyvinylglycine     

The allelopathic potential of alfalfa root medicagenic acid glycosides and their fate in soil environments

Summary The allelopathic effect of alfalfa (Medicago media Pers.) and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) root saponins on winter wheat seedling growth and the fate of these chemicals in soil environments were studied. Seed germination, seedling and test fungus growth were suppressed by water and by alcohol extracts of alfalfa roots, and by crude saponins of alfalfa roots, indicating that medicagenic acid glycosides are the inhibitor. Powdered alfalfa roots inhibited wheat seedling growth when added to sand. At concentrations as low as 0.25% (w/w) the root system was completely destroyed whereas seedling shoots suffered little damage. Red clover roots caused some wheat growth inhibition when incorporated to sand, but their effect was much lower than in the alfalfa root treatment. Soil textures had a significant influence on the inhibitory effect of alfalfa roots. The inhibition of seedling growth was more pronounced on light than on heavy soils. This was attribted to the higher sorption of inhibitors by heavy soils. Incubation of alfalfa roots mixed into loose sand, coarse sand, loamy sand and clay loam for a period of 0–8 days resulted in decreased toxicity to bothT. viride and wheat seedlings. This decrease occurred more quickly in heavier soils than in loose sand, due to the hydrolysis of glycosides by soil microorganisms. Soil microbes were capable of detoxifying medicagenic acid glycosides by partial hydrolysis of sugar chain to aglycone. These findings illustrate the importance of medicagenic acid glycosides as an inhibitor of wheat seedling growth, and of their fate in different soil environments.     

Sulphated flavonoid glycosides from leaves of Atriplex hortensis

Two flavonoid sulphates, i.e. quercetin 3-O-sulphate-7-O-α-arabinopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-sulphate-7-O-α-arabinopyranoside, were isolated from leaves of Atriplex hortensis L. The structures of these compounds were established by UV, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, 2D NMR and MS spectra. The compounds were isolated for the first time from plant material.     

Inhibition by silver ions of gas space (aerenchyma) formation in adventitious roots of Zea mays L. subjected to exogenous ethylene or to oxygen deficiency

We have studied the role of ethylene in accelerating the lytic formation of gas spaces (aerenchyma) in the cortex of adventitious roots of maize (Zea mays L.) growing in poorly aerated conditions. Such roots had previously been shown to contain increased concentrations of ethylene. Ten day-old maize plants bearing seminal roots and one whorl of emerging adventitious roots were grown in nutrient solution bubbled with air, ethylene in air (0.1 to 5.0 l l^–1), or allowed to become oxygen-deficient in nonaerated (but not completely anaerobic) solution. Additions of 0.1 l l^–1 ethylene or more promoted the formation of aerenchyma, with lysis of up to 47% of the cortical cells. The effects of non-aeration were similar to those of exogenous ethylene. When silver ions, an ethylene antagonist, were present at low, non-toxic concentrations (circa 0.6 M), aerenchyma formation was prevented in ethylene treated roots and in those exposed to oxygen deficiency. Silver ions also blocked the inhibiting effect of exogenous ethylene on root extension. By contrast, the suppression of aerenchyma formation by silver ions under oxygendeficient conditions was associated with a retardation of root extension, indicating the importance of aerenchyma for root growth in poorly aerated media. Rates of production of ethylene by excised roots were stimulated by a previous non-aeration treatment. The effectiveness of Ag⁺ in inhibiting equally the action on cortical cells of exogenous ethylene and of non-aeration, supports the view that gas space (aerenchyma) formation in adventitious roots adpted to oxygendeficient environments is mediated by increased concentrations of endogenous ethylene. The possibility that extra ethylene could arise from increased biosynthesis of a precursor in root tissues with a restricted oxygen supply is discussed.     

海滨滨麦叶片和根对不同厚度沙埋的生理响应差异分析

以烟台海岸抗风沙植物滨麦为研究材料,通过对不同厚度沙埋下其叶片和根部抗氧化酶活力(超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT))、丙二醛(MDA)含量和渗透调节物含量变化的分析,探讨了叶片和根部对沙埋生理响应的差异。试验按滨麦成株株高(约40 cm)对其进行了轻度沙埋(在株高1/4处)、中度沙埋(2/4处)和重度沙埋(3/4处)。在沙埋第6天,分别测定了不同厚度沙埋处理下,植株各段叶片和根抗氧化酶活力、MDA和渗透调节物含量。结果表明,轻度和中度沙埋均加速植株生长。与对照相比,经轻度、中度沙埋处理6 d,叶片平均MDA含量增加,在重度沙埋下降低。不同厚度沙埋6 d,叶片平均SOD活力和脯氨酸含量增加,而CAT活力、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质含量下降。但不同厚度沙埋均使沙上叶片MDA、脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白质含量和SOD和CAT活力增加,尤其是叶片顶部增加最为明显,使沙下叶片MDA、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质含量和CAT活力下降,导致同株沙上和沙下叶片MDA、脯氨酸、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质含量和SOD和CAT活力差异显著(P0.05)。与叶片相比,根中MDA、可溶性蛋白质含量和SOD和CAT活力较低,而POD活力和可溶性糖含量较高并与叶片差异显著(P0.05)。不同厚度沙埋6 d,滨麦根中MDA和可溶性蛋白质含量变化较小,可溶性糖含量和CAT、POD、SOD活力略有降低。研究表明,滨麦根和叶片对不同厚度沙埋的生理响应不同。沙埋直接作用于叶片并诱发叶内氧自由基积累,但叶片通过快速激活的抗氧化酶保护系统(CAT、SOD)维持氧自由基代谢平衡,以及渗透调节物(脯氨酸、可溶性糖)的积累维护细胞水分代谢平衡,并满足能量的需求和快速生长。但在不同厚度沙埋下,由于根系不受沙埋直接影响而生理变化较小,并且还维持较低的膜脂过氧化水平,这可能是根能维持正常的吸水输水功能并在沙埋处理过程中和沙埋后地上叶片快速生长摆脱沙埋的重要物质基础。     

Variation for Root Aerenchyma Formation in Flooded and Non-Flooded Maize and Teosinte Seedlings

Morphological and anatomical factors such as aerenchyma formation in roots and the development of adventitious roots are considered to be amongst the most important developmental characteristics affecting flooding tolerance. In this study we investigated the lengths of adventitious roots and their capacity to form aerenchyma in three- and four-week-old seedlings of two maize (Zea mays ssp. mays, Linn.) inbred accessions, B64 and Na4, and one teosinte, Z. nicaraguensis Iltis & Benz (Poaceae), with and without a flooding treatment. Three weeks after sowing and following a seven day flooding treatment, both maize and teosinte seedlings formed aerenchyma in the cortex of the adventitious roots of the first three nodes. The degree of aerenchyma formation in the three genotypes increased with a second week of flooding treatment. In drained soil, the two maize accessions failed to form aerenchyma. In Z. nicaraguensis, aerenchyma developed in roots located at the first two nodes three weeks after sowing. In the fourth week, aerenchyma developed in roots of the third node, with a subsequent increase in aerenchyma in the second node roots. In a second experiment, we investigated the capacity of aerenchyma to develop in drained soil. An additional three teosinte species and 15 maize inbred lines, among them a set of flooding-tolerant maize lines, were evaluated. Evaluations indicate that accessions of Z. luxurians (Durieu & Asch. Bird) and two maize inbreds, B55 and Mo20W, form aerenchyma when not flooded. These materials may be useful genetic resources for the development of flooding-tolerant maize accessions.     

Ion measurements by X-ray microanalysis in unfixed,frozen, hydrated plant cells of species differing in salt tolerance

A technique is described for X-ray microanalysis of unfixed, frozen, hydrated higher plant cells using a scanning electron microscope in conjunction with a cryostage. Freezing in liquid N₂ is the only preparative step required. Using this method, ion distribution was compared in the roots of Zea mays L. (termed a salt excluder) and Hordeum vulgare L. (which is rather more tolerant), both grown in the presence of NaCl. Distinct differences were observed between the two species in Na, K and Cl distribution. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that reabsorption of Na from the xylem sap in the mature regions of the root may occur in salt-sensitive glycophytes such as Z. mays.     

Combination Effect of NaCl Salinity and Nitrogen Form on Mineral Composition of Sunflower Plants

The effect of two N-forms (NH₄ ⁺ and NO₃ ^–) and NaCl on pattern of accumulation of some essential inorganic nutrients was examined in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cv. Hisun 33. Eight-day-old plants of were subjected for 21 d to Hoagland's nutrient solution containing 8 mM N as NH₄ ⁺ or NO₃ ^·, and salinized with and addition of NaCl to the growth medium had no significant effect on total leaf N. However, root N of NH₄-supplied plants decreased significantly with increase in NaCl concentration, whereas that of NO₃-supplied plants remained unaffected. There was no significant effect of NaCl on leaf or root P, but the NO₃-supplied plants had significa concentration of leaf P than that of NH₄-supplied plants at varying salt treatments. Salinity of the rooting med did not show any significant effect on Na⁺ concentrations of leaves or roots of plants subjected to two differen N. NH₄-treated plants generally had greater concentrations of Cl^– in leaves and roots and lower K⁺ content in leaves than NO₃-supplied plants. Ca²⁺ concentrations of leaves and roots and Mg²⁺ concentrations of leaves decreased in NH₄-supplied plants due to NaCl, but they remained unaffected in NO₃-treated plants.     

Disturbed ammonium assimilation is associated with growth inhibition of roots in rice seedlings caused by NaCl

The effects of NaCl on changes in ammonium level and enzyme activities of ammonium assimilation in roots growth of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings were investigated. NaCl was effective in inhibiting root growth and stimulated the accumulation of ammonium in roots. Accumulation of ammonium in roots preceded inhibition of root growth caused by NaCl. Both effects caused by NaCl are reversible. Exogenous ammonium chloride and methionine sulfoximine (MSO), which caused ammonium accumulation in roots, inhibited root growth of rice seedlings. NaCl decreased glutamine synthetase and glutamate synthase activities in roots, but increased glutamate dehydrogenase activity. The growth inhibition of roots by NaCl or MSO could be reversed by the addition of L-glutamic acid or L-glutamine. The current results suggest that disturbance of ammonium assimilation in roots may be involved in regulating root growth reduction caused by NaCl.Abbreviations GDH glutamate dehydrogenase - GOGAT glutamate synthase - GS glutamine synthetase - MSO methionine sulfoximine     

Effects of Salinity and Relative Humidity on Two Melon Cultivars Differing in Salt Tolerance

The effects of increasing relative humidity on the growth and salt tolerance of two melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars, Revigal C-8 (salt sensitive) and Galia (salt tolerant) was investigated. One month after germination, the plants were exposed for 15 d to 0 (control) and 80 mM NaCl, under relative humidity (RH), 30 and 70 %. The growth of the whole plant, leaf, stem and root of cv. Revigal C-8 was increased with increasing RH. On the other hand, cv. Galia showed an increase in root growth with increasing RH only under the NaCl treatment. Under salinity, most of the Na⁺ was withheld in the stems. An increase in RH in the NaCl treatment significantly decreased Na⁺ and Cl^– concentrations in leaves of cv. Revigal C-8, while it had no effect on their concentrations in cv. Galia. In both cultivars, increasing RH under NaCl condition significantly decreased water contents in leaves and stems, and increased osmotic potential in roots. The amount of the root exudate of cv. Galia was significantly decreased with increasing RH, while it was not affected in cv. Revigal C-8. Under the NaCl treatment, cv. Galia had significantly higher leaf osmotic potential than cv. Revigal C-8 at both relative humidities and higher amount of root exudate at 30 % RH.     

Dissemination of entomopathogenic fungi using Busseola fusca male as vector

The stem borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller), is an important pest of maize Zea mays L. and sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.) in eastern and southern Africa. To control this pest, biological control methods including the use of entomopathogenic fungi are being considered. The pathogenicity of one isolate of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorok. and one isolate of Beauveria bassiana Bals. (Vuill.) were first tested on different developmental stages of B. fusca including eggs, neonate, 2nd and 3rd-instar larvae. Both fungal isolates were pathogenic to all the stages tested. However, differences in mortality were observed among larvae that hatched from treated egg masses. Experiments were conducted thereafter to test whether B. fusca males could serve as a vector for fungal conidia to contaminate B. fusca females and subsequently eggs and larvae. Results demonstrated that B. fusca males successfully transferred inoculum to females during copulation, which in turn transmitted it to the eggs they laid on maize plants, resulting in the decrease of leaf damages.     

Element distribution in mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal roots of the halophyte Aster tripolium determined by proton induced X-ray emission

Summary. The salt aster (Aster tripolium L.) colonized by the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Glomus intraradices Sy167 and noncolonized control plants were grown in a greenhouse for nine months with regular fertilization by Hoagland nutrient solution supplemented with 2% NaCl. Mycorrhizal roots showed a high degree of mycorrhizal colonization of 60–70% and formed approximately 25% more dry weight and much less aerenchyma than the nonmycorrhizal controls. Cryosectioning essentially preserved the root cell structures and apparently did not cause significant ion movements within the roots during cuttings. The experimental conditions, however, did not allow to discriminate between fungal and plant structures within the roots. Quantification of proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) data revealed that in control roots, Na⁺ was mainly concentrated in the outer epidermal and exodermal cells, whereas the Cl^– concentration was about the same in all cells of the roots. Cross sections of roots colonized by the mycorrhizal fungus did not show this Na1 gradient in the concentration from outside to inside but contained a much higher percentage of NaCl among the elements determined than the controls. PIXE images are also presented for the four other elements K, P, S, and Ca. Both in colonized and control roots, the concentration of potassium was high, probably for maintaining homoeostasis under salt stress. This is seemingly the first attempt to localize both Na⁺ and Cl^– in a plant tissue by a biophysical method and also demonstrates the usefulness of PIXE analysis for such kind of investigation.     

Root-zone temperature and salinity: Interacting effects on tillering,growth and element concentration in barley

The effects of root-zone salinity (0, 30, and 60 mmol L^–1 of NaCl) and root-zone temperature (10, 15, 20, and 25°C) and their interactions on the number of tillers, total dry matter production, and the concentration of nutrients in the roots and tops of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) were studied. Experiments were conducted in growth chambers (day/night photoperiod of 16/8 h and constant air temperature of 20°C) and under water-culture conditions. Salinity and root temperature affected all the parameters tested. Interactions between salinity and temperature were significant (p<0.05) for the number of tillers, growth of tops and roots, and the concentration of Na, K, P in the tops and the concentration of P in the roots. Maximum number of tillers and the highest dry matter were produced when the root temperature was at the intermediate levels of 15 to 20°C. Effect of salinity on most parameters tested strongly depended on the prevailing root temperature. For example, at root temperature of 10°C addition of 30 mmol L^–1 NaCl to the nutrient solution stimulated the growth of barley roots; at root temperature of 25°C, however, the same NaCl concentration inhibited the root growth. At 60 mmol L^–1, root and shoot growth were maximum when root temperature was kept at the intermediate level of 15°C; most inhibition of salinity occurred at both low (10°C) and high (25°C) root temperatures. As the root temperature was raised from 10 to 25°C, the concentration of Na generally decreased in the tops and increased in the roots. At a given Na concentration in the tops or in the roots, respective growth of tops or roots was much less inhibited if the roots were grown at 15–20°C. It is concluded that the tolerance of barley plant to NaCl salinity of the rooting media appears to be altered by the root temperature and is highest if the root temperature is kept at 15 to 20°C.     

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。