Effect of Sudden Salt Stress on Ion Fluxes in Intact Wheat Suspension Cells

Although salinity is one of the major problems limiting agriculturalproduction around the world, the underlying mechanisms of highNaCl perception and tolerance are still poorly understood. Theeffects of different bathing solutions and fusicoccin (FC),a known activator of plasma membrane ATPase, on plasma membranepotential (E_m) and net fluxes of Na⁺, K⁺and H⁺were studied inwheat suspension cells (Triticum aestivum) in response to differentNaCl treatments. E_mof cells in Murashige and Skoog (MS) mediumwas less negative than in cells exposed to a medium containing10 mM KCl + 0.1 m M CaCl₂(KSM) and to a basic salt medium (BSM),containing 1 m M KCl and 0.1 m M CaCl₂. Multiphasic Na⁺accumulationin cells was observed, peaking at 13 min after addition of 120m M NaCl to MS medium. This time scale was in good agreementwith net Na⁺flux changes measured non-invasively by moving ion-selectivemicroelectrodes (the MIFE system). When 120 m M NaCl was addedto all media studied, a quick rise of Na⁺influx was reversedwithin the first 20 min. In both 120 and 20 m M NaCl treatmentsin MS medium, net Na⁺efflux was observed, indicating that activeNa⁺transporters function in the plant cell response to saltstress. Lower external K⁺concentrations (KSM and BSM) and FCpre-treatment caused shifts in Na⁺fluxes towards net influxat 120 m M NaCl stress. Copyright 2000 Annals of Botany Company Sodium, potassium, proton, membrane potential, fusicoccin, salt stress, wheat, Triticum aestivum