Cortical cell death, cell proliferation, macromolecular movements and rTip1 expression pattern in roots of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under NaCl stress

The mode of action of NaCl in terms of cell proliferation and cell death was examined in seminal roots of rice plants (Oryza sativa L.). Salt/sodium chloride was inhibitory to cell number increase and to cell death in cortical tissue, whereas final cortical cell size was the same as in control roots that were not exposed to NaCl. It seems that NaCl may stimulate the transition phase from cell division to cell elongation. Further analysis of the role of NaCl in the suppression of cortical cell death was confined to a delay in the early stage of cell collapse, which was caused by tonoplast disruption, and plasma-membrane destruction. Sodium chloride did not have any effect on the cell-to-cell movement of macromolecules in the root cortex. In-situ hybridization studies indicated that expression of the gene for tonoplast intrinsic protein (rTip1) was localized predominantly in the epidermal and exodermal cells as well as in metaxylem cells in seminal roots. Upon NaCl treatment, the intensity of rTip1 gene expression was raised in the cortical parenchyma, suggesting that salt plays a role in the rapid onset of cell elongation. Received: 2 April 1998 / Accepted: 18 September 1998