Adaptive strategy of Nitraria sibirica to transient salt,alkali and osmotic stresses via the alteration of Na+/K+fluxes around root tips

Nitraria sibirica Pall.is an important shrub with a strong salt-alkali tolerance,but the mechanism underlying this tolerance remains obscure.In this study,N.sibirica,with salt-sensitive Vigna radiata(Linn.)Wilczek as the control,was subjected to transient salt stress(100 mM NaCl),alkali stress(50 mM Na_(2)CO_(3)),and osmotic stress(175 mM mannitol).The ionic fluxes of Na^(+)and K^(+)in the root apical region were measured.Results show that,under salt and alkali stress,N.sibirica roots exhibited higher capacities to limit Na+influx and reduce K+efflux,thereby resulting in lower Na^(+)/K^(+)ratios compared with V.radiata roots.Alkali stress induced stronger Na^(+)influx and K+efflux in the root salt stress treatment;Na^(+)influx was mainly observed in the root cap,while K^(+)efflux was mainly observed in the elongation zone.While under osmotic stress,N.sibirica roots showed stronger Na+efflux and weaker K+efflux than V.radiata roots.Na+efflux was mainly observed in the root elongation zone,while K+efflux was in the root cap.These results reveal the ionic strategy of N.sibirica in response to transient salt,alkali,and osmotic stresses through the regulation of Na+/K+flux homeostasis.

盐响应信号途径SOS与植物K^+吸收关系

【目的】在盐胁迫条件下研究SOS突变体K+吸收的变化,旨在解析植物高盐胁迫响应与K+吸收的关系。【方法】以SOS信号途径的3个主要基因sos1、sos2、sos3突变体和野生型拟南芥(WT)为试验材料,在含有不同Na+/K+浓度比例的培养基上处理试验材料,观察各突变体与WT的表型差异,进行根系扫描、测定植物的RGR(相对生长率),植株体内Na+、K+的含量,计算植株体内Na+/K+浓度比值,同时,利用qRT-PCR分析K+转运体基因AKT1、AKT2、SKOR在突变体和WT间的表达差异。【结果】不同浓度K+进行处理时,突变体和WT之间没有明显差异;在30 mmol.L-1NaCl处理下,植株形态、RGR和体内Na+/K+浓度比值,体内K+浓度的测定结果显示,当K+浓度从0.2 mmol.L-1增加到60 mmol.L-1时,K+浓度增加缓解了高盐胁迫对突变体生长的抑制作用。所有植株体内的Na+/K+值降低,体内K+浓度提高。在相同处理条件下,突变体的Na+/K+值高于WT,WT体内K+浓度高于突变体;当K+浓度升高到80 mmol.L-1时,突变体的生长又重新受到抑制。所有植株体内的Na+/K+值升高,体内K+浓度降低。3个K+转运体AKT1、AKT2、SKOR的real-time PCR分析结果显示,在30 mmol.L-1NaCl处理时,在低钾条件下(0.2 mmol.L-1K+)AKT1和SKOR表达比较低,而高钾条件下(20.05 mmol.L-1K+或者60 mmol.L-1K+)AKT1、AKT2、SKOR的表达量没有明显差异,这3个基因的表达方式在突变体之间没有明显的差异。【结论】在中度盐胁迫条件下,外界K+浓度增加可以缓解盐胁迫对植物生长造成的抑制作用,但是当外界一价阳离子的总浓度高于110 mmol.L-1时,拟南芥的生长重新受到抑制。SOS信号途径对植物K+吸收没有直接的调节作用。

Salt Stress Affects the Growth and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by Altering the Antioxidant Machinery and Expression of Hormones and Stress- Specific Genes

Understanding physiological responses in saline agriculture may facilitate wheat breeding programs.Based on a screening test,the Ningmai-14(NM-14)and Yangmai-23(YM-23)wheat cultivars were selected for further experiments to understand the underlying salinity tolerance mechanism.This study investigated the effects of five salinity levels such as Control(CK)=0(without NaCl stress),S1=0.20%,S2=0.25%,S3=0.30%and S4=0.35%of NaCl concentrations of soil on wheat plants.The results showed that increased salinity concentration reduced the growth and yield of wheat cultivars(NM-14 and YM-23).However,YM-23(12.7%)yielded more than NM-14 at maximum salinity stress.The higher salinity(S4)increased the concentration of Na^(+)(4.3 to 5.8-fold)and P contents(2.5 to 2.2-fold),while reducing the average concentrations of K^(+),Cu,and K^(+)/Na^(+)ratio.The higher salinity(S4)reduced the spikelet length by 21.35%(followed by grain spike−1),and the starch content by 18.81%.In the YM-23 cultivar,higher salinity increased superoxide dismutase(SOD),total antioxidant capacity(TAC),and amylase.Compared to NM-14,induced expression of TaYUC2,6,and TaGA13ox,20ox genes were recorded in YM-23.Similarly,in YM-23 the stress-specific genes such as TaHSP70,90 were enhanced whereas,TaSOS1,2 were suppressed.Overall,our study revealed that salt tolerant cultivars modulate hormonal and antioxidant activities,thus maintaining high growth.

Physiological Responses of Contrasting Rice Genotypes to Salt Stress at Reproductive Stage

Salinity is a major abiotic stress affecting plant growth and productivity. Considerable genetic variation is present in rice in response to salt stress, with higher sensitivity during early seedling and reproductive stage. In this study, physiological changes in leaves and developing panicles of rice genotypes (IR686, Sadri, Rc222, CSR28, IR670 and Pokkali) contrasting in salt tolerance at the reproductive stage were evaluated in greenhouse experiment under salt stress. The results showed that IR670 and the tolerant-check Pokkali maintained lower Na^+/K^+ ratio, less reduction in chlorophyll concentration, lower malondialdehyde (MDA) production, higher concentrations of reduced ascorbate (reduced AsA), higher proline accumulation and lower percentage reduction in pollen viability than the salt-sensitive genotypes under salt stress. The higher concentration of reduced AsA suggests an efficient ROS-scavenging system. Physiological measurements and pollen viability analysis revealed that Sadri (moderately tolerant at the seedling stage) is sensitive to salt stress at the flowering stage. The findings will be useful in breeding salt tolerant varieties at both seedling and reproductive stages by selecting appropriate genotypes and phenotypes.

Improvement of leaf K^(+) retention is a shared mechanism behind CeO_(2) and Mn_(3)O_(4) nanoparticles improved rapeseed salt tolerance

Salinity is a global issue limiting efficient agricultural production.Nanobiotechnology has been emerged as an effective approach to improve plant salt tolerance.However,little known is about the shared mechanisms between different nanomaterials-enabled plant salt tolerance.In this study,we found that both PNC[polyacrylic acid coated nanoceria(CeO_(2) nanoparticles)]and PMO(polyacrylic acid coated Mn_(3)O_(4) nanoparticles)nanozymes improved rapeseed salt tolerance.PNC and PMO treated rapeseed plants showed significantly fresh weight,dry weight,higher chlorophyll content,Fv/Fm,and carbon assimilation rate than control plants under salt stress.Results from confocal imaging with reactive oxygen species(ROS)fluorescent dye and histochemical staining experiments showed that the ROS over-accumulation level in PNC and PMO treated rapeseed was significantly lower than control plants under salt stress.Confocal imaging results with K+fluorescent dye showed that significantly higher cytosolic and vacu-olar K^(+) signals were observed in PNC and PMO treated rapeseed than control plants under salt stress.This is further confirmed by leaf K^(+) content data.Furthermore,we found that PNC and PMO treated rapeseed showed significantly lower cytosolic Na^(+) signals than control plants under salt stress.While,compared with significantly higher vacuolar Na^(+) signals in PNC treated plants,PMO treated rapeseed showed significantly lower vacuolar Na^(+) signals than control plants under salt stress.These results are further supported by qPCR results of genes of Na^(+) and K^(+) transport.Overall,our results suggest that besides maintaining ROS homeostasis,improvement of leaf K^(+) retention could be a shared mechanism in nano-improved plant salt tolerance.