Effects of Drought Stress on Osmotic Regulation Substances of Five Catalpa bungei Clones

[Objective] This study aimed to investigate the effects of drought stress on osmotic regulation substances of Catalpa bungei clones. [Method] Potting experimental was carried out with plastic film sealing method, to differentiate the degrees of drought stress based on changes in soil water content and leaf water potential and investigate variations in contents of osmotic regulation substances（free proline,soluble sugar and soluble protein） in leaves of five Catalpa bungei clones under different degrees of drought stresses. [Result] According to changes in soil water content and leaf water potential, the whole process of drought stress was divided into normal level（CK, with soil water content of 97.49% and leaf water potential of-0.54MPa）, light drought（LD with soil water content of 59.96% and leaf water potential of-1.28 MPa）, mediate drought（MD with soil water content of 34.19% and leaf water potential of-2.32 MPa） and severe drought（SD with soil water content of 14.52%and leaf water potential of-2.99 MPa）. The soil water content and leaf water potential of five Catalpa bungei clones reached the highest correlation in exponential fitting, with an average R2of 0.989 3（P0.001）. The free proline content in leaves of five Catalpa bungei clones increased rapidly with the increasing degree of drought stress（P 0.001）. To be specific, free proline contents of Catalpa bungei clones015-1 and 7080 were 34.39 and 33.41 times of the normal level under severe drought conditions, which reached an extremely significant level（P0.001）; the free proline content of Catalpa bungei clone 1-3 rapidly increased to（855.46±227.52） μg/g Fw under light drought conditions. The soluble protein content in leaves showed different variation trends. To be specific, the soluble protein content of Catalpa bungei clone 7080 was the lowest at various drought stages and reached（1.644 ±0.137）mg/g Fw under normal conditions; the soluble protein content of Catalpa bungei clone 1-3 was relatively high under normal conditions and was reduced rapidly under light drought conditions, showing different response patterns. [Conclusion] Osmotic regulation substances in leaves of five Catalpa bungei clones all have certain response to drought stress. Free proline is the most important osmotic regulation substance, followed by soluble protein, while soluble sugar makes no significant contribution. According to changes in content of osmotic regulation substances, Catalpa bungei clone 7080 has relatively high capacity and good drought resistance, while Catalpa bungei clone 1-3 has the rapidest response to drought stress.

Response of Osmotic Regulation Substance Content and Protective Enzyme Activities to Shading in Leaves of Different Rice Genotypes

Effects of shading at the flowering and grain filling stages on osmotic regulation substance content and protective enzyme activities in the leaves of different rice genotypes （e.g., Ilyou 498, Gangyou 188, Dexiang 4103, Gangyou 527 and Chuanxiang 9838） were investigated. The results showed that the malondialdehyde content of Gangyou 188 significantly increased under shading, whereas those of Ilyou 498, Dexiang 4103, Gangyou 527 and Chuanxiang 9838 showed no significant differences compared to the control. The soluble sugar content significantly decreased in Ilyou 498, Gangyou 188, Dexiang 4103 and Chuanxiang 9838, whereas it did not significantly increase in Gangyou 527 under the weak light conditions （shading）. Moreover, the soluble protein content in the leaves of different genotypes tended to decrease under shading. Further, the protective enzyme activities in the leaves varied in different rice genotypes under the shading treatment. Based on the osmotic regulation substance content and the protective enzyme activities in the leaves of different rice genotypes, it was concluded that Gangyou 188 and Gangyou 527 had strong abilities to adapt to the low light conditions. In addition, the mechanism of damage to rice leaves in different genotypes under shading was discussed.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alleviates Salt-Alkali Stress Demage on Syneilesis aconitifolia

Syneilesis aconitifolia is a potential ground cover and decorative material in gardens,which exhibits a strong salt-alkali tolerance,and also has medicinal value.In this study,the arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)fungi community in the soil surrounding S.aconitifolia roots in the Songnen saline-alkali grassland was used as the inoculation medium for a pot cultivation experiment.After normal culture for 90 days,NaCl and NaHCO_(3) solutions were applied to subject plants to salt or alkali stress.Solution concentrations of 50,100,and 200 mmol/L were applied for 10 days,and mycorrhizal colonization,biomass,relative water content(RWC),chlorophyll concentration,malondialdehyde(MDA)concentration,antioxidant system activity,and osmomodulator concentration were determined to identify the effects of AM fungi on root colonization status and salinity tolerance in S.aconitifolia.There were three key results.(1)Compared to the controls,the intensity and rate of colonization decreased under saline-alkali stress,and the adaptability of AM fungi under low concentration alkali stress was higher than that under salt stress.(2)The AM fungi could increase the biomass,RWC,and chlorophyll concentration,and decrease the MDA concentration of S.aconitifolia to some extent.With an increase in the salt or alkali solution concentration,AM fungi not only upregulated the activity of the antioxidant system,but also increased the concentration of osmotic regulatory substances.(3)A multivariate analysis of variance(ANOVA)and radar map analysis showed that the mechanisms of resistance to salt and alkali stress were not the same in S.aconitifolia.In the salt treatment,AM fungi mainly regulated salt stress through osmotic regulatory substances such as soluble sugars,soluble proteins,and proline.In the alkali treatment,AM fungi mainly regulated alkali stress through glutathione(GSH),soluble sugars,and MDA.The results showed that the colonization rate of S.aconitifolia under low concentration alkali stress was higher than that under salt stress,and the inoculation of AM fungi could significantly reduce the MDA concentration of S.aconitifolia plants under salinity and alkali stress,and improve the antioxidant enzyme activity and osmoregulatory substance accumulation,thereby improving the salinity tolerance of S.aconitifolia.

Effects of Exogenous Calcium(Ca) on the Growth of Watermelon Seedlings under NaCl Stress

[Objective] This study was conducted to reveal the effect of exogenous calcium （Ca） in mitigating the damage caused by NaCI stress to watermelon seedlings. [Method] To the liquid medium containing 100 mmol/L NaCI, CaSO4 was added to the final concentrations of 4, 6, 10 and 14 mmol/L. The morphological and physiological indices including plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant, maximum leaf length, maximum leaf width, seedling fresh weight and dry weight, malondialdehyde （MDA） content, relative permeability of plasma membrane, ascorbic acid （AsA） content, free proline content, soluble sugar content and soluble protein content in leaves of the seedlings treated with above media for 10 d were measured. [Result] NaCI stress significantly inhibited the growth of watermelon seedlings. The membrane permeability and MDA content in leaves were significantly increased under NaCI stress, and the contents of proline, soluble sugar, soluble protein and AsA were increased to different extents. Exogenous CaSO4 influenced the morphological and physiological indices of seedlings under NaCI stress in a manner. Treated with 6 mmol/L CaSO4, the growth of seedlings under salinity was significantly improved; membrane permeability and MDA content were drastically reduced, the contents of proline, soluble sugar, soluble pro- tein and AsA in leaves were significantly increased. [Conclusion] Exogenous CaSO＋ alleviates lipid peroxidation and inhibition of seedling growth under NaCI stress by improving the abilities of antioxidation and osmotic adjustment, and 6 mmol/L CaSO4 showed the best effect.

Physiological Response of Paspalum notatum’s Leaf and Root under Persistent Drought Stress

To investigate the correlation and difference between Paspalum notatum’s leaf and root under drought adversity,this study tested the physiological responses of wild Paspalum notatum’s leaf and root under 0(CK),1,3,5,7,14,21,and 28 d drought stress treatment.These physiological responses include osmotic regulating substance,antioxidant enzyme activity,malonaldehyde content,cell membrane permeability,and chlorophyll content.According to the results,the soluble protein content,proline concentration,malonaldehyde content,cell membrane permeability and CAT activity in Paspalum notatum’s leaf and root tended to increase with the prolongation of drought stress;the soluble sugar content and SOD activity first increased and then decreased;POD dropped gradually;the contents of chlorophyll a,b and total chlorophyll first declined,then mounted,and lastly dropped again.During the early stage of drought stress,SOD and CAT acted as the main antioxidant enzymes in Paspalum notatum’s leaf and root.However,with the aggravation of drought stress the predominant antioxidant enzymes became SOD in the root system whereas CAT and POD in the leaf.It implicates drought has a strong influence on root’s CAT and leaf’s SOD and POD.Leaf is the major organ regulating the osmosis and photosynthesis of Paspalum notatum.The findings can provide a useful theoretical basis for improving Paspalum notatum’s drought tolerance.

Effects of Waterlogging Stress on the Physiological Characteristics and Secondary Metabolites of Herbaceous Peony (<i>Paeonia lactiflora</i>Pall.)

Herbaceous peony is an ornamental plant with medicinal properties. Waterlogging can affect its yield and quality as it grows and matures. In this study, we subjected “Taohuafeixue”, “Yangfeichuyu” and “Hongxiuqiu” herbaceous peony varieties to a simulated waterlogging stress treatment and investigated the effects of waterlogging on their physiological characteristics and the secondary metabolite contents in their leaves and roots. Short-term waterlogging caused the leaves to turn yellow or red and the roots to turn black. The stele and the cell wall of the endothelial cells thickened, and the cortical cells enlarged. Waterlogging did not significantly change plant height, leaf length, and leaf area;however, it significantly decreased the root-shoot ratio of “Yangfeichuyu” and “Hongxiuqiu” varieties. The activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of osmotic regulators increased under waterlogging. After short-term waterlogging stress treatment, the content of paeoniflorin and albiflorin increased in the roots of “Taohuafeixue” and “Yangfeichuyu”, and the content of benzoylpaeoniflorin increased in the root of “Hongxiuqiu”. The content of gallic acid and total flavonoids increased in the leaves of “Taohuafeixue” and “Yangfeichuyu”. After the waterlogging, paeoniflorin and benzoylpaeoniflorin increased in the autumn root of “Hongxiuqiu”. This study expands our knowledge about the medicinal properties of herbaceous peony and informs about its production and cultivation under waterlogged conditions.

Transcriptome of hepatopancreas in kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus under low-salinity stress

The kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus is one of the most commercially important shrimp species in the world.Low salinity would aff ect the penetration and immunity,and even led to its death of the shrimp.However,little is known about the molecular mechanism of the effect.Therefore,hepatopancreas of M.japonicus reared under low-salinity stress for 6,12,24,48,and 96 h was analyzed and the results were compared with that of the control group using transcriptomics.After removing reads containing adapters,88890960-1051300444 clean reads were generated from 10 libraries in the control group and experimental group.Compared with the control group,811,589,1095,745,and 875 diff erentially expressed genes were obtained in the five treatment groups.The N50 and N90 lengths of the transcripts were 1746 bp and 436 bp,respectively.The top 20 gene ontology terms and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways associated with the diff erentially expressed genes were related mainly to osmotic regulation(ion exchange,lipid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism),immune regulation(cellular and humoral immunity),chitin metabolism,and related functions.The diff erential expression patterns of nine randomly selected genes were confi rmed by quantitative real-time PCR.This is the fi rst report of osmotic regulation-related genes that are diff erentially expressed under low-salinity stress in the hepatopancreas of M.japonicus.Furthermore,we found that M.japonicus initiated its own immune regulation under low-salinity stress.These results will help elucidating the mechanism of osmotic regulation and immune responses in this shrimp species.

High dietary lipid level promotes low salinity adaptation in the marine euryhaline crab(Scylla paramamosain)

The physiological processes involved in adaptation to osmotic pressure in euryhaline crustaceans are highly energy demanding,but the effects of dietary lipids(fat)on low salinity adaptations have not been well evaluated.In the present study,a total of 120 mud crabs(Scylla paramamosain,BW=17.87±1.49 g)were fed control and high-fat(HF)diets,at both medium salinity(23‰)and low salinity(4‰)for 6 wk,and each treatment had 3 replicates with each replicate containing 10 crabs.The results indicated that a HF diet significantly mitigated the reduction in survival rate,percent weight gain and feed efficiency induced by low salinity(P<0.05).Low salinity lowered lipogenesis and activated lipolysis resulting in lipid depletion in the hepatopancreas of mud crabs(P<0.05).Thus,HF diets enhanced the process of lipolysis to supply more energy.In the gills,low salinity and the HF diet increased the levels of mitochondrial biogenesis markers,the activity of mitochondrial complexes,and the expression levels of genes related to energy metabolism(P<0.05).Consequently,the positive effects of the HF diet on energy metabolism in mud crabs at low salinity promoted osmotic pressure regulation.Specifically,significantly higher haemolymph osmotic pressure and inorganic ion content,as well as higher osmotic pressure regulatory enzyme activity in gills,and gene and protein expression levels of NaK-ATPase were observed in crabs fed the HF diet at low salinity(P<0.05).In summary,high dietary lipid levels improved energy provision to facilitate mitochondrial biogenesis,which increased ATP provision for osmotic pressure regulation of mud crabs.This study also illustrates the importance of dietary lipid nutrition supplementation for low salinity adaptations in mud crabs.