Osmotic Shock Inhibits Auxin-stimulated Acidification and Growth

Genome-wide transcriptional analysis of salinity stressed japonica and indica rice genotypes during panicle initiation stage

Rice yield is most sensitive to salinity stress imposed during the panicle initiation (PI) stage. In this study, we have focused on physiological and transcriptional responses of four rice genotypes exposed to salinity stress during PI. The genotypes selected included a pair of indicas (IR63731 and IR29) and a pair of japonica (Agami and M103) rice subspecies with contrasting salt tolerance. Physiological characterization showed that tolerant genotypes maintained a much lower shoot Na+ concentration relative to sensitive genotypes under salinity stress. Global gene expression analysis revealed a strikingly large number of genes which are induced by salinity stress in sensitive genotypes, IR29 and M103 relative to tolerant lines. We found 19 probe sets to be commonly induced in all four genotypes. We found several salinity modulated, ion homeostasis related genes from our analysis. We also studied the expression of SKC1, a cation transporter reported by others as a major source of variation in salt tolerance in rice. The transcript abundance of SKC1 did not change in response to salinity stress at PI stage in the shoot tissue of all four genotypes. However, we found the transcript abundance of SKC1 to be significantly higher in tolerant japonica Agami relative to sensitive japonica M103 under control and stressed conditions during PI stage.

Induction and ionic basis of slow wave potentials in seedlings of Pisum sativum L

Slow wave potentials (SWPs) are transient depolarizations which propagate substantial distances from their point of origin. They were induced in the epidermal cells of pea epicotyls by injurious methods such as root excision and heat treatment, as well as by externally applied defined steps in xylem pressure (Px) in the absence of wounding. The common principle of induction was a rapid increase in Px. Such a stimulus appeared under natural conditions after (i) bending of the epicotyl, (ii) wounding of the epidermis, (iii) rewatering of dehydrated roots, and (iv) embolism. The induced depolarization was not associated with a change in cell input resistance. This result and the ineffectiveness of ion channel blockers point to H(+)-pumps rather than ion channels as the ionic basis of the SWP. Stimuli such as excision, heat treatment and pressure steps, which generate SWPs, caused a transient increase in the fluorescence intensity of epicotyls loaded with the pH-indicator DM-NERF, a 2',7'-dimethyl derivative of rhodol, but not of those loaded with the pH indicator 2',7'bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). Matching kinetics of depolarization and pH response identify a transient inactivation of proton pumps in the plasma membrane as the causal mechanism of the SWP. Feeding pump inhibitors to the cut surface of excised epicotyls failed to chemically simulate a SWP; cyanide, azide and 2,4-dinitrophenol caused sustained, local depolarizations which did not propagate. Of all tested substances, only sodium cholate caused a transient and propagating depolarization whose arrival in the growing region of the epicotyl coincided with a transient growth rate reduction.

Osmoregulation by Oat Coleoptile Protoplasts (Effect of Auxin)

The effect of auxin on the physiology of protoplasts from growing oat (Avena sativa L.) coleoptiles was investigated. Protoplasts, isolated iso-osmotically from peeled oat coleoptile segments, were found to swell steadily over many hours. Incubated in 1 mM CaCl2, 10 mM KCl, 10 mM 2-(morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid/1,3-bis-[tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]propane, pH 6.5, and mannitol to 300 milliosmolal, protoplasts swelled 28.9% [plus or minus] 2.0 (standard error) after 6 h. Addition of 10 [mu]M indoleacetic acid (IAA) increased swelling to 41.1% [plus or minus] 2.1 (standard error) after 6 h. Swelling (in the absence of IAA) was partially dependent on K+ in the bath medium, whereas auxin-induced swelling was entirely dependent on K+. Replacement of mannitol in the bath by Glc increased swelling (in the absence of IAA) and eliminated auxin-induced swelling. Swelling with or without IAA was inhibited by osmotic shock and was completely reversed by 0.1 mM NaN3. Sodium orthovanadate, applied at 0.5 mM, only gradually inhibited swelling under various conditions but was most effective with protoplasts prepared from tissue preincubated in vanadate. Our data are interpreted to suggest that IAA increases the conductance of the plasma membrane to K+.

Rapid alterations in growth rate and electrical potentials upon stem excision in pea seedlings

Excision of the epicotyl base of pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings in air results in a fast drop in the growth rate and rapid transient membrane depolarization of the surface cells near the cut. Subsequent immersion of the cut end into solution leads to a rapid, transient rise in the epicotyl growth rate and an acropetally propagating depolarization with an amplitude of about 35 mV and a speed of approx. 1 mm s-1. The same result can be achieved directly by excision of the pea epicotyl under water. Shape, amplitude and velocity of the depolarization characterize it as a "slow-wave potential". These results indicate that the propagating depolarization is caused by a surge in water uptake. Neither a second surge in water uptake (measured as a rapid increase in growth rate when the cut end was placed in air and then back into solution) nor another cut can produce the depolarization a second time. Cyanide suppresses the electrical signal at the treated position without inhibiting its transmission through this area and its development in untreated parts of the epicotyl. The large depolarization and repolarization which occur in the epidermal and subepidermal cells are not associated with changes in cell input resistance. Both results indicate that it is a transient shut-down of the plasma-membrane proton pump rather than large ion fluxes which is causing the depolarization. We conclude that the slow wave potential is spread in the stem via a hydraulic surge occurring upon relief of the negative xylem pressure after the hydraulic resistance of the root has been removed by excision.

Sequence of key events in shoot gravitropism

It has recently been shown that asymmetric acid efflux is closely correlated with the gravitropic curvature of plant shoots and roots. The research reported here addresses whether auxin (IAA) redistribution in shoots is the cause or result of asymmetric acid efflux.When abraded sunflower (Helianthus annuus cv Mammoth) hypocotyls are submerged in 20 millimolar neutral buffer, gravicurvature is greatly retarded relative to 0.2 millimolar controls. Nevertheless, in both buffer systems there is a similar redistribution of [(3)H]IAA toward the lower surface of gravistimulated sunflower hypocotyls. These results suggest that graviperception initiates IAA redistribution, which in turn results in auxin-induced asymmetric H(+) efflux across the shoot. This interpretation is reinforced by data showing the effects of removal of the epidermal layers (peeling), osmotic shock, and morphactin treatment on gravicurvature and [(3)H]IAA redistribution. Peeling and osmotic shock inhibit gravicurvature but not redistribution. Morphactin inhibits both processes but does not inhibit hypocotyl straight growth.

Regulation of H Excretion : EFFECTS OF OSMOTIC SHOCK

Osmotic shock, a 15-minute plasmolysis followed by a 15-minute rehydration in the cold, is a nondestructive technique which inhibits fusicoccin-stimulated H(+) excretion from oat mesophyll cells (Avena sativa L.). Osmotic shock also causes a loss of intracellular solutes and stimulates H(+) uptake, but osmoregulation can still occur, and enhanced H(+) uptake is observed only at low external pH. It is concluded that osmotic shock interferes directly with the excretion of H(+) rather than affecting only H(+) or counter ion uptake.Plasmolysis alone does not inhibit fusicoccin-enhanced H(+) excretion, and the rehydration step must be rapid and in the cold for maximum inhibition. This suggests that the plasma membrane is perturbed, possibly due to release or rearrangement of membrane protein. Compared to corresponding osmolarities of sorbitol or NaCl, polyethylene glycol 4000 is much less effective during the plasmolysis step; the possibility is discussed that the ineffectiveness of polyethylene glycol 4000 is due to its preservation of plasmodesmata.

Osmoregulation in the Avena coleoptile in relation to auxin and growth

A study has been made of the effects of auxin and growth on the ability of Avena coleoptile sections to osmoregulate, i.e. to take up solutes so as to maintain their osmotic concentration, turgor pressure, and growth rate. The high auxin-induced growth rate of Avena coleoptiles is maintained when cells are provided sucrose, glucose, NaCl, or KCl as a source of absorbable solutes, but not when 2-deoxy-d-glucose or 3-O-methyl-d-glucose is used. In the absence of auxin, cells take up solutes from a 2% sucrose solution and the osmotic concentration increases. The rate of solute uptake is even greater in the presence of auxin or fusicoccin, but the osmotic concentration rises only slightly because of the water taken up during growth. Solute uptake is not stimulated by auxin when growth is inhibited osmotically or by calcium ions. Solute uptake appears to have two components: a basal rate, independent of auxin or growth, and an additional uptake which is proportional to growth. Osmoregulation of sections may be limited by the rate of entry of solutes into the tissue rather than by their rate of uptake into the cells.

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Calcium-stimulated Serine Transport into Tobacco Cells

The transport of serine into tobacco cells (Nicotiana tabacum L.) cultured in liquid medium was examined. Transport was inhibited approximately 50% by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, indoleacetic acid, alpha-naphthalene acetic acid, and kinetin at a concentration of 10 micrograms per milliliter. Transport was not inhibited by 2,6-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and inhibited less than 25% by p-chlorophenoxyacetic acid at this concentration. Removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid from the transport medium resulted in an alleviation of inhibition. Gibberellic acid at concentrations from 2 to 20 micrograms per milliliter stimulated transport.It was previously shown that inhibition of transport by La(3+) was due to removal of Ca(2+) from surface sites and inhibition of Ca(2+) uptake by cells. None of the growth regulators tested had any significant effect on Ca(2+) binding and/or transport.A contributing factor to the low transport rates in the absence of Ca(2+) is the increased rate of serine efflux. None of the growth regulators tested had any significant effect on the rate of serine efflux.