Cyclanilide Induces Lateral Bud Outgrowth by Modulating Cytokinin Biosynthesis and Signalling Pathways in Apple Identified via Transcriptome Analysis.

Cyclanilide (CYC), a plant growth regulator, is a potent shoot branching agent in apple. However, its mechanism remains unclear. The current study revealed that CYC treatment resulted in massive reprogramming of the axillary bud transcriptome, implicating several hormones in the response. We observed a marked increase (approximately 2-fold) in the level of zeatin riboside and a significant decrease (approximately 2-fold) in the level of abscisic acid (ABA). Zeatin metabolism gene cytokinin (CTK) oxidase 1 (CKX 1) was down-regulated at 168 h after CYC treatment compared with the control. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis of differentially expressed genes demonstrated the turquoise module clusters exhibited the highest positive correlation with zeatin riboside (r = 0.92) and the highest negative correlation with ABA (r = -0.8). A total of 37 genes were significantly enriched in the plant hormone signal transduction pathway in the turquoise module. Among them, the expressions of CTK receptor genes WOODEN LEG and the CTK type-A response regulators genes ARR3 and ARR9 were up-regulated. ABA signal response genes protein phosphatase 2C genes ABI2 and ABI5 were down-regulated in lateral buds after CYC treatment at 168 h. In addition, exogenous application of 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA, a synthetic type of CTK) and CYC enhanced the inducing effect of CYC, whereas exogenous application of lovastatin (a synthetic type of inhibitor of CTK biosynthesis) or ABA and CYC weakened the promoting effect of CYC. These results collectively revealed that the stimulation of bud growth by CYC might involve CTK biosynthesis and signalling, including genes CKX1 and ARR3/9, which provided a direction for further study of the branching promoting mechanism of CYC.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Multiple Genes and Complex Hormonal-Mediated Interactions with PEG during Adventitious Root Formation in Apple.

Adventitious root (AR) formation is a bottleneck for the mass propagation of apple rootstocks, and water stress severely restricts it. Different hormones and sugar signaling pathways in apple clones determine AR formation under water stress, but these are not entirely understood. To identify them, GL-3 stem cuttings were cultured on polyethylene glycol (PEG) treatment. The AR formation was dramatically decreased compared with the PEG-free control (CK) cuttings by increasing the endogenous contents of abscisic acid (ABA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and methyl jasmonate (JA-me) and reducing the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid 3 (GA3) contents. We performed a transcriptomic analysis to identify the responses behind the phenotype. A total of 3204 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between CK and PEG, with 1702 upregulated and 1502 downregulated genes. Investigation revealed that approximately 312 DEGs were strongly enriched in hormone signaling, sugar metabolism, root development, and cell cycle-related pathways. Thus, they were selected for their possible involvement in adventitious rooting. However, the higher accumulation of ABA, ZR, and JA-me contents and the upregulation of their related genes, as well as the downregulation of sugar metabolism-related genes, lead to the inhibition of ARs. These results indicate that AR formation is a complicated biological process chiefly influenced by multiple hormonal signaling pathways and sugar metabolism. This is the first study to demonstrate how PEG inhibits AR formation in apple plants.

Inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense and exogenous application of trans-zeatin riboside alleviates arsenic induced physiological damages in wheat (Triticum aestivum).

Due to increased industrialization, arsenic (As) in the soil has become a serious issue for wheat production since past few decades. We investigated the role of Azospirillum brasilense and trans-zeatin riboside (tZR) in the mitigation of arsenic toxicity in wheat for 2 years (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) in pot experiments. Wheat plants grown in soil artificially spiked with arsenic (50, 70, and 100 µM) was left alone or amended with A. brasilense, tZR, or their combination as mitigation strategies. A treatment without arsenic or amendments was maintained as control. Arsenic-induced physiological damages were noticed in the wheat plants. Detrimental effects on the plant physiological functions, such as disruption of cell membrane stability, reduced water uptake, and stomatal functions, were noticed with increase in As toxicity. Application of biological amendments reversed the effects of As toxicity by increasing wheat plant growth rate, leaf area, and photosynthesis and also yield. Therefore, application of tZR and wheat seed inoculation with A. brasilense could be a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy to mitigate arsenic-induced crop physiological damages.

Changes in the distribution of endogenous hormones in Phyllostachys edulis 'Pachyloen' during bamboo shooting.

In this study, we investigated the changes in the distribution and regulation of endogenous hormones in Phyllostachys edulis 'Pachyloen' during bamboo shooting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the mass fractions of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and abscisic acid (ABA) in rhizomes, shoots, and maternal bamboo organs during shoot sprouting, shoot growth, and new-bamboo formation. Measurements were compared among bamboo parts and developmental periods. The overall mass fractions of IAA and ABA were significantly higher than those of ZR and GA, driven by differences among bamboo parts and developmental periods. The abundance of each endogenous hormone varied among bamboo parts and developmental periods. During bamboo shooting, ABA had the highest mass fraction in all bamboo parts sampled, followed by IAA, GA, and ZR. Among bamboo parts, rhizomes had more IAA, ZR, and GA than the other parts, but significantly less ABA. Winter shoots had higher ZR: IAA and GA: IAA ratios than rhizomes and maternal bamboo organs. During shoot growth, ABA was the most abundant hormone in rhizomes and maternal bamboo organs, followed by IAA, ZR, and GA. In contrast, IAA was the most abundant hormone in spring shoots, followed by ABA, ZR, and GA. Maternal bamboo organs had a significantly higher ZR: GA ratio, and significantly lower IAA: ABA, ZR: ABA, and GA: ABA ratios than rhizomes. Spring shoots had significantly higher IAA: ABA, ZR: ABA, and GA: ABA ratios than rhizomes and maternal bamboo organs; significantly higher ZR mass fractions, and ZR: GA and ZR: IAA ratios and significantly lower ABA mass fractions than rhizomes; and significantly higher GA: IAA ratio than maternal bamboo organs. During new-bamboo formation, ABA was the most abundant hormone in rhizomes, winter shoots, and maternal bamboo organs, followed by IAA, ZR, and GA. Maternal bamboo organs had significantly lower IAA mass fractions and significantly higher ABA mass fractions than rhizomes and new bamboo tissue. IAA and ABA abundances exhibited an inverse relationship in rhizomes and maternal bamboo organs. GA: ABA and GA: IAA ratios decreased gradually and other hormone ratios exhibited parabolic trends over the bamboo-shooting period, with the highest ratios observed in new bamboo tissues. Overall, the coordination or antagonism among endogenous hormones plays a key regulatory role in bamboo shoot growth. The formation of thick walls in P. edulis 'Pachyloen', one of its major traits, may be partially attributed to the relatively high IAA and ZR and low GA mass fractions.

Mechanism of Allium Crops Bulb Enlargement in Response to Photoperiod: A Review.

The photoperiod marks a varied set of behaviors in plants, including bulbing. Bulbing is controlled by inner signals, which can be stimulated or subdued by the ecological environment. It had been broadly stated that phytohormones control the plant development, and they are considered to play a significant part in the bulb formation. The past decade has witnessed significant progress in understanding and advancement about the photoperiodic initiation of bulbing in plants. A noticeable query is to what degree the mechanisms discovered in bulb crops are also shared by other species and what other qualities are also dependent on photoperiod. The FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) protein has a role in flowering; however, the FT genes were afterward reported to play further functions in other biological developments (e.g., bulbing). This is predominantly applicable in photoperiodic regulation, where the FT genes seem to have experienced significant development at the practical level and play a novel part in the switch of bulb formation in Alliums. The neofunctionalization of FT homologs in the photoperiodic environments detects these proteins as a new class of primary signaling mechanisms that control the growth and organogenesis in these agronomic-related species. In the present review, we report the underlying mechanisms regulating the photoperiodic-mediated bulb enlargement in Allium species. Therefore, the present review aims to systematically review the published literature on the bulbing mechanism of Allium crops in response to photoperiod. We also provide evidence showing that the bulbing transitions are controlled by phytohormones signaling and FT-like paralogues that respond to independent environmental cues (photoperiod), and we also show that an autorelay mechanism involving FT modulates the expression of the bulbing-control gene. Although a large number of studies have been conducted, several limitations and research gaps have been identified that need to be addressed in future studies.

A recessive high-density pod mutant resource of Brassica napus.

In Brassica napus, pod number and pod density are critical factors to determine seed yield. Although the pod density is an essential yield trait, the regulation of yield formation in oil crops, as well as the genetic and molecular mechanisms, are poorly understood. In this study, we characterized a rapeseed high-density pod mutant (dpt247) from composite hybridization. To shed some light on the nature of this mutation, it was investigated morphologically, anatomically, physiologically, genetically and transcriptomically. The mutant plant showed noticeable phenotypic differences in comparison with the control plant, including reduced plant height and primary branch length, decreased number of primary branches, significantly increased number of pod on the main inflorescence, and more compact pod distribution. Besides, the mutant had higher levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and zeatin riboside (ZR) in the shoot apical meristem (SAM). The dense pod trait was controlled by two major recessive genes identified in the segregating genetic populations of GRE501 and dpt247. RNA sequencing indicated genes participated in auxin, cytokinin and WUS/CLV signalling pathway in dpt247 were more active in the mutant. These results provide important information for understanding the regulation of yield formation and high yield breeding in rapeseed.

A highly efficient organogenesis protocol based on zeatin riboside for in vitro regeneration of eggplant.

BACKGROUND: Efficient organogenesis induction in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is required for multiple in vitro culture applications. In this work, we aimed at developing a universal protocol for efficient in vitro regeneration of eggplant mainly based on the use of zeatin riboside (ZR). We evaluated the effect of seven combinations of ZR with indoleacetic acid (IAA) for organogenic regeneration in five genetically diverse S. melongena and one S. insanum L. accessions using two photoperiod conditions. In addition, the effect of six different concentrations of indolebutyric acid (IBA) in order to promote rooting was assessed to facilitate subsequent acclimatization of plants. The ploidy level of regenerated plants was studied. RESULTS: In a first experiment with accessions MEL1 and MEL3, significant (p < 0.05) differences were observed for the four factors evaluated for organogenesis from cotyledon, hypocotyl and leaf explants, with the best results obtained (9 and 11 shoots for MEL1 and MEL3, respectively) using cotyledon tissue, 16 h light / 8 h dark photoperiod conditions, and medium E6 (2 mg/L of ZR and 0 mg/L of IAA). The best combination of conditions was tested in the other four accessions and confirmed its high regeneration efficiency per explant when using both cotyledon and hypocotyl tissues. The best rooting media was R2 (1 mg/L IBA). The analysis of ploidy level revealed that between 25 and 50% of the regenerated plantlets were tetraploid. CONCLUSIONS: An efficient protocol for organogenesis of both cultivated and wild accessions of eggplant, based on the use of ZR, is proposed. The universal protocol developed may be useful for fostering in vitro culture applications in eggplant requiring regeneration of plants and, in addition, allows developing tetraploid plants without the need of antimitotic chemicals.

Strip rotary tillage with a two-year subsoiling interval enhances root growth and yield in wheat.

Excessive tillage and soil compaction threaten the sustainable farmlands in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plains of China. Our study explores tillage practices to improve soil and root ecology and promote productivity in the winter wheat fields. We tested the impact of plowing, rotary, strip rotary tillage and strip rotary tillage with a two-year subsoiling interval (SRS) on wheat yield and root quality. SRS decreased soil bulk density compared with other treatments, resulting in lower soil penetration resistance. Root morphology and weight density decreased with the increased soil depth and was higher in SRS. Moreover, SRS increased the indoleacetic acid and trans zeatin riboside levels corresponding to greater TTC reduction activities, the total and active absorption root area. SRS increased the superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and soluble protein concentration and decreased the malondialdehyde concentration. The first two factors extracted using 11 root attributes in various soil layers through principal component analysis were selected as the integrated indicators for the minimum data set, and their integrated score was calculated to quantify the root quality. Our study suggests that SRS could significantly improve root morphology and enhance the root activity in subsoil layers, thus, delaying root senescence and increasing winter wheat yield.

Increased endogenous indole-3-acetic acid:abscisic acid ratio is a reliable marker of Pinus massoniana rejuvenation.

Pinus massoniana is a recalcitrant tree species for rooting in vitro. We rejuvenated 26-year-old P. massoniana trees by successive grafting. Rooting rates of rejuvenated shoots were > 83.1% after rooting induction. We compared endogenous levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins (GAs) and zeatin-riboside (ZR), and the rhizogenesis ability of axillary shoots of mature and rejuvenated materials in vitro, i.e., somaplants and grafts. Enhancement of the rooting ability of mature materials in vitro following somatic embryogenesis or repeated grafting onto juvenile rootstocks was accompanied by increased IAA and GAs levels, and by decreased ABA levels in scions used as starting material for micropropagation in vitro. Successive subcultures did not influence the rooting ability of shoots from untreated mature material. Rooting ability of shoots in vitro, however, gradually increased with subculture frequency during repeated subculturing in grafting materials. The IAA:ABA ratio in shoots in vitro after grafting five times, and consequently capable of root organogenesis, was higher than in shoots of untreated mature material incapable of root organogenesis in vitro. A high IAA:ABA ratio was detected in scions of somaplants that were capable of rooting in vitro despite subculture times. We found that the endogenous IAA:ABA ratio is a reliable marker for the recovery of root organogenesis in vitro after rejuvenating treatments for mature P. massoniana trees.

Gene ssfg_01967 (miaB) for tRNA modification influences morphogenesis and moenomycin biosynthesis in Streptomyces ghanaensis ATCC14672.

Streptomyces ghanaensis ATCC14672 is remarkable for its production of phosphoglycolipid compounds, moenomycins, which serve as a blueprint for the development of a novel class of antibiotics based on inhibition of peptidoglycan glycosyltransferases. Here we employed mariner transposon (Tn) mutagenesis to find new regulatory genes essential for moenomycin production. We generated a library of 3000 mutants which were screened for altered antibiotic activity. Our focus centred on a single mutant, HIM5, which accumulated lower amounts of moenomycin and was impaired in morphogenesis as compared to the parental strain. HIM5 carried the Tn insertion within gene ssfg_01967 for putative tRNA (N6-isopentenyl adenosine(37)-C2)-methylthiotransferase, or MiaB, and led to a reduced level of thiomethylation at position 37 in the anticodon of S. ghanaensis transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA). It is likely that the mutant phenotype of HIM5 stems from the way in which ssfg_01967::Tn influences translation of the rare leucine codon UUA in several genes for moenomycin production and life cycle progression in S. ghanaensis. This is the first report showing that quantitative changes in tRNA modification status in Streptomyces have physiological consequences.

Grain development and endogenous hormones in summer maize (Zea mays L.) submitted to different light conditions.

Low light is a type of abiotic stress that seriously affects plant growth and production efficiency. We investigated the response mechanisms of summer maize to low light by measuring the changes in endogenous hormones in the grains and during grain filling in summer maize at different light intensities to provide a theoretical basis for the production and management of summer maize under light stress. We applied different light treatments in a field experiment as follows: S, shading from tassel stage (VT) to maturity stage (R6); CK, natural lighting in the field; and L, increasing light from VT to R6. The shading level was 60%, and the maximum illumination intensity of the increasing light treatment on cloudy days was 1600-1800 µmol m-2 s-1. Compared with the control, shading significantly increased the grain abscisic acid (ABA) content at 5-20 days after pollination and decreased the indole acetic acid (IAA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and gibberellin (GA) contents (P < 0.05). The grain-filling rate decreased under shading conditions. Meanwhile, the grain volume, grain weight, and yield all decreased; the yields in 2013 and 2014 decreased by 61 and 60%, respectively. The grain IAA, ZR, and GA contents were increased by increasing light. The grain ABA content at 5-20 days after pollination did not significantly differ from that of CK (P < 0.05). After 20 days after pollination, the ABA content decreased, the grain-filling rate and the filling duration increased, and the yield increased. However, shading after anthesis increased the grain ABA content and reduced the IAA, ZR, and GA contents. Grain growth and development were inhibited, and the yield decreased. The grain ABA content decreased; the IAA, ZR, and GA contents increased; and the yield increased after increasing light. The results indicate that different light intensities regulated the levels of grains endogenous hormones, which influenced the grain-filling rate and duration, and consequently, regulated grain weight and yield.

Antibody-mediated modulation of cytokinins in tobacco: organ-specific changes in cytokinin homeostasis.

Cytokinins comprise a group of phytohormones with an organ-specific mode of action. Although the mechanisms controlling the complex networks of cytokinin metabolism are partially known, the role of individual cytokinin types in the maintenance of cytokinin homeostasis remains unclear. Utilizing the overproduction of single-chain Fv antibodies selected for their ability to bind trans-zeatin riboside and targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum, we post-synthetically modulated cytokinin ribosides, the proposed transport forms of cytokinins. We observed asymmetric activity of cytokinin biosynthetic genes and cytokinin distribution in wild-type tobacco seedlings with higher cytokinin abundance in the root than in the shoot. Antibody-mediated modulation of cytokinin ribosides further enhanced the relative cytokinin abundance in the roots and induced cytokinin-related phenotypes in an organ-specific manner. The activity of cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase in the roots was strongly up-regulated in response to antibody-mediated formation of the cytokinin pool in the endoplasmic reticulum. However, we only detected a slight decrease in the root cytokinin levels. In contrast, a significant decrease of cytokinins occurred in the shoot. We suggest the roots as the main site of cytokinin biosynthesis in tobacco seedlings. Conversely, cytokinin levels in the shoot seem to depend largely on long-range transport of cytokinin ribosides from the root and their subsequent metabolic activation.

Cdk5rap1-mediated 2-methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenosine modification is absent from nuclear-derived RNA species.

2-Methylthio-N6-isopentenyl modification of adenosine (ms2i6A) is an evolutionally conserved modification that is found in transfer RNAs (tRNAs). We have recently shown that Cdk5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 1 (Cdk5rap1) specifically converts i6A to ms2i6A at position A37 of four mitochondrial DNA-encoded tRNAs, and that the modification regulates efficient mitochondrial translation and energy metabolism in mammals. Curiously, a previous study reported that ms2i6A is present abundantly in nuclear-derived RNA species such as microRNAs, but not in tRNA fractions. To fully understand the molecular property of ms2i6A, the existence of non-canonical ms2i6A must be carefully validated. In the present study, we examined ms2i6A in total RNA purified from human and murine ρ0 cells, in which mitochondrial DNA-derived tRNAs were completely depleted. The ms2i6A was not detected in these cells at all. We generated a monoclonal antibody against ms2i6A and examined ms2i6A in murine RNAs using the antibody. The anti-ms2i6A antibody only reacted with the tRNA fractions and not in other RNA species. Furthermore, immunocytochemistry analysis using the antibody showed the predominant localization of ms2i6A in mitochondria and co-localization with the mitochondrial elongation factor Tu. Taken together, we propose that ms2i6A is a mitochondrial tRNA-specific modification and is absent from nuclear-encoded RNA species.

Systemic transport of trans-zeatin and its precursor have differing roles in Arabidopsis shoots.

Organ-to-organ signal transmission is essential for higher organisms to ensure coordinated biological reactions during metabolism and morphogenesis. Similar to organs in animals, plant organs communicate by various signalling molecules. Among them, cytokinins, a class of phytohormones, play a key role as root-to-shoot long-distance signals, regulating various growth and developmental processes in shoots1,2. Previous studies have proposed that trans-zeatin-riboside, a type of cytokinin precursor, is a major long-distance signalling form in xylem vessels and its action depends on metabolic conversion via the LONELY GUY enzyme in proximity to the site of action3-5. Here we report an additional long-distance signalling form of cytokinin: trans-zeatin, an active form. Grafting between various cytokinin biosynthetic and transportation mutants revealed that root-to-shoot translocation of trans-zeatin, a minor component of xylem cytokinin, controls leaf size but not meristem activity-related traits, whereas that of trans-zeatin riboside is sufficient for regulating both traits. Considering the ratio of trans-zeatin to trans-zeatin-riboside in xylem and their delivery rate change in response to environmental conditions, this dual long-distance cytokinin signalling system allows plants to fine-tune the manner of shoot growth to adapt to fluctuating environments.

Regulation of maize kernel weight and carbohydrate metabolism by abscisic acid applied at the early and middle post-pollination stages in vitro.

Abscisic acid (ABA) accumulates in plants under drought stress, but views on the role of ABA in kernel formation and abortion are not unified. The response of the developing maize kernel to exogenous ABA was investigated by excising kernels from cob sections at four days after pollination and culturing in vitro with different concentrations of ABA (0, 5, 10, 100µM). When ABA was applied at the early post-pollination stage (EPPS), significant weight loss was observed at high ABA concentration (100µM), which could be attributed to jointly affected sink capacity and activity. Endosperm cells and starch granules were decreased significantly with high concentration, and ABA inhibited the activities of soluble acid invertase and acid cell wall invertase, together with earlier attainment of peak values. When ABA was applied at the middle post-pollination stage (MPPS), kernel weight was observably reduced with high concentration and mildly increased with low concentration, which was regulated due to sink activity. The inhibitory effect of high concentration and the mild stimulatory effect of low concentration on sucrose synthase and starch synthase activities were noted, but a peak level of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) was stimulated in all ABA treatments. Interestingly, AGPase peak values were advanced by low concentration and postponed by high concentration. In addition, compared with the control, the weight of low ABA concentration treatments were not statistically significant at the two stages, whereas weight loss from high concentration applied at EPPS was considerably obvious compared with that of the MPPS, but neither led to kernel abortion. The temporal- and dose-dependent impacts of ABA reveal a complex process of maize kernel growth and development.

The modified base isopentenyladenosine and its derivatives in tRNA.

Base 37 in tRNA, 3'-adjacent to the anticodon, is occupied by a purine base that is thought to stabilize codon recognition by stacking interactions on the first Watson-Crick base pair. If the first codon position forms an A.U or U.A base pair, the purine is likely further modified in all domains of life. One of the first base modifications found in tRNA is N6-isopentenyl adenosine (i6A) present in a fraction of tRNAs in bacteria and eukaryotes, which can be further modified to 2-methyl-thio-N6-isopentenyladenosine (ms2i6A) in a subset of tRNAs. Homologous tRNA isopentenyl transferase enzymes have been identified in bacteria (MiaA), yeast (Mod5, Tit1), roundworm (GRO-1), and mammals (TRIT1). In eukaryotes, isopentenylation of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial tRNAs is mediated by products of the same gene. Accordingly, a patient with homozygous mutations in TRIT1 has mitochondrial disease. The role of i6A in a subset of tRNAs in gene expression has been linked with translational fidelity, speed of translation, skewed gene expression, and non-sense suppression. This review will not cover the action of i6A as a cytokinin in plants or the potential function of Mod5 as a prion in yeast.

Exogenous Cytokinins Increase Grain Yield of Winter Wheat Cultivars by Improving Stay-Green Characteristics under Heat Stress.

Stay-green, a key trait of wheat, can not only increase the yield of wheat but also its resistance to heat stress during active photosynthesis. Cytokinins are the most potent general coordinator between the stay-green trait and senescence. The objectives of the present study were to identify and assess the effects of cytokinins on the photosynthetic organ and heat resistance in wheat. Two winter wheat cultivars, Wennong 6 (a stay-green cultivar) and Jimai 20 (a control cultivar), were subjected to heat stress treatment from 1 to 5 days after anthesis (DAA). The two cultivars were sprayed daily with 10 mg L-1 of 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) between 1 and 3 DAA under ambient and elevated temperature conditions. We found that the heat stress significantly decreased the number of kernels per spike and the grain yield (P < 0.05). Heat stress also decreased the zeatin riboside (ZR) content, but increased the gibberellin (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and abscisic acid (ABA) contents at 3 to 15 DAA. Application of 6-BA significantly (P < 0.05) increased the grain-filling rate, endosperm cell division rate, endosperm cell number, and 1,000-grain weight under heated condition. 6-BA application increased ZR and IAA contents at 3 to 28 DAA, but decreased GA3 and ABA contents. The contents of ZR, ABA, and IAA in kernels were positively and significantly correlated with the grain-filling rate (P < 0.05), whereas GA3 was counter-productive at 3 to 15 DAA. These results suggest that the decrease in grain yield under heat stress was due to a lower ZR content and a higher GA3 content compared to that at elevated temperature during the early development of the kernels, which resulted in less kernel number and lower grain-filling rate. The results also provide essential information for further utilization of the cytokinin substances in the cultivation of heat-resistant wheat.

H2O2 and ABA signaling are responsible for the increased Na+ efflux and water uptake in Gossypium hirsutum L. roots in the non-saline side under non-uniform root zone salinity.

Non-uniform root salinity increases the Na(+)efflux, water use, and growth of the root in non-saline side, which may be regulated by some form of signaling induced by the high-salinity side. However, the signaling and its specific function have remained unknown. Using a split-root system to simulate a non-uniform root zone salinity in Gossypium hirsutum L., we showed that the up-regulated expression of sodium efflux-related genes (SOS1, SOS2, PMA1, and PMA2) and water uptake-related genes (PIP1 and PIP2) was possibly involved in the elevated Na(+) efflux and water use in the the roots in the non-saline side. The increased level of indole acetic acid (IAA) in the non-saline side was the likely cause of the increased root growth. Also, the abscisic acid (ABA) and H2O2 contents in roots in the non-saline side increased, possibly due to the increased expression of their key biosynthesis genes, NCED and RBOHC, and the decreased expression of ABA catabolic CYP707A genes. Exogenous ABA added to the non-saline side induced H2O2 generation by up-regulating the RBOHC gene, but this was decreased by exogenous fluridone. Exogenous H2O2 added to the non-saline side reduced the ABA content by down-regulating NCED genes, which can be induced by diphenylene iodonium (DPI) treatment in the non-saline side, suggesting a feedback mechanism between ABA and H2O2.Both exogenous ABA and H2O2 enhanced the expression of SOS1, PIP1;7 ,PIP2;2, and PIP2;10 genes, but these were down-regulated by fluridone and DPI, suggesting that H2O2 and ABA are important signals for increasing root Na(+) efflux and water uptake in the roots in the non-saline side.

Physiological and molecular analysis on root growth associated with the tolerance to aluminum and drought individual and combined in Tibetan wild and cultivated barley.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The drought-stimulated gene expression of NCED, SUS, and KS - DHN and ABA signal cross-talk with other phytohormones maintains barley root growth under drought stress at pH 4.0 plus polyethylene glycol plus aluminum. Aluminum (Al) toxicity and drought are two major factors that limit barley production. In this work, the individual and combined effects of Al/acid and polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) induced drought stress that suppressed root growth and caused oxidative damage as characterized by increased H2O2 and O2(.-) accumulation. The wild-barley genotypes, XZ5 and XZ29, exhibited a higher tolerance than the two cultivars Dayton (Al tolerant) and Tadmor (drought tolerant) under combined stress (pH 4.0 + PEG + Al). The oxidative damage induced by PEG was more severe at pH 4.0 than at pH 6.0. In XZ29, the highest root secretion of malate and citrate was recorded, and the least Al uptake in the four genotypes. In XZ5, a peak accumulation of ABA and minor synthesis of zeatin riboside and ethylene were found being essential in maintaining primary root elongation and root hair development. PEG-induced drought stress repressed Al uptake in root tips, with a lower increase in callose formation and HvMATE (Hordeum vulgare multidrug and toxic compound exudation) expression compared to Al-induced callose production. Stress by pH 4.0 + PEG + Al up-regulated 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) which is involved in ABA biosynthesis. Such treatment stimulated the regulation of ABA-dependent genes sucrose synthase (SUS) and KS-type dehydrin (KS-DHN) in root tips. Our results suggest that the tolerance ranking to pH 4.0 + PEG + Al stress in Tibetan wild barley by gene expression is closely correlated to physiological indices. The results show that acclimatisation to pH 4.0 + PEG + Al stress involves specific responses in XZ5 and XZ29. The present study provides insights into the effects of Al/acid and drought combined stress on the abundance of physiological indices in the roots of barley varieties.

[Changes of endogenous hormone contents and antioxidative enzyme activities in wheat leaves under low temperature stress at jointing stage].

Low temperature stresses (-3 and -5 °C) were simulated using artificial temperature-controlled phytotrons to study the freezing rate, the contents of endogenous hormones, and the activities of antioxidative enzymes in the leaves of wheat plants of Yangmai 16 (YM 16) and Xumai 30 (XM 30) at jointing stage. The grade and index of freezing injury increased with lower temperature and longer stress. The freezing rate was at the 5th level and the main stems and tillers of both cultivars were finally dead under -5 °C lasting for 72 h. On the last day of stress initiation, the contents of abscisic acid (ABA) and zeatin riboside (ZR), and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxide dismutase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in leaves increased at the beginning and then declined as low temperature progressed. On the 3rd day after stress, the contents of ABA and ZR and the activities of antioxidative enzymes were higher than those on the last day of cold stress, and then reduced to the level of the control on the 6th day after stress. The content of gibberellins (GA3) was lowered by cold stress. For YM 16, GA3 content increased from the 3rd day to the 6th day after cold stress, whereas, for XM 30, it increased first and then decreased. For the treatment of -5 °C lasting for 72 h, the contents of hormones and the activities of antioxidative enzymes were significantly lower than those of the other treatments. Correlation analyses showed that higher ABA and ZR contents, and higher SOD, POD and CAT activities as well as lower GA3 content could alleviate the low-temperature injury in wheat plants under low temperature stress.