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Qu B, Yuan Y, Wang L, Liu Y, Chen X, Shao M, Xu Y. Effects of different water conditions on the cadmium hyperaccumulation efficiency of Rorippa sylvestris (L.) Besser and Rorippa amphibia Besser. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:20970-20979. [PMID: 36264464 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-23531-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Increasing the translocation and accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in Cd hyperaccumulator is an important technology to improve the phytoremediation efficiency of Cd-contaminated soil. In order to investigate the effects of different water conditions on the growth and Cd accumulation ability of Cd hyperaccumulators Rorippa sylvestris (L.) Besser and Rorippa amphibia Besser in Cd-polluted soil, clone seedlings of them were transplanted into pots filled with 50 mg kg-1 Cd-contaminated soil and cultured with water conditions of soil relative water content (RWC) 35%, 55%, 75%, 95%, and flooding respectively. The results showed the following: with the increase of RWC, the height of R. sylvestris and R. amphibia increased gradually, the dry biomass of shoot and whole plant increased and reached the maximum in 95% and then decreased in flooding; the Cd concentrations in shoots of R. sylvestris and R. amphibia were more than 100 mg kg-1 except for 35% and flooding; Cd bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of R. amphibia reached the maximum of 3.8870 in 75% and R. sylvestris reached the maximum of 3.2330 in 95%; sufficient water resulted in the decrease of photosynthetic rate due to more Cd accumulation. However, under flooding condition, because of the decrease of Cd bioavailability in soil, the accumulation of Cd in shoots declined and the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) enhanced slightly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Qu
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Yunning Yuan
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
- College of Forestry, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Linyu Wang
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
- College of Forestry, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Yinuo Liu
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Xuhui Chen
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Meini Shao
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China
| | - Yufeng Xu
- College of Biological Science and Technology, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.
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2
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Fukushima K, Narukawa H, Palfalvi G, Hasebe M. A discordance of seasonally covarying cues uncovers misregulated phenotypes in the heterophyllous pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202568. [PMID: 33499794 PMCID: PMC7893253 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms withstand normal ranges of environmental fluctuations by producing a set of phenotypes genetically programmed as a reaction norm; however, extreme conditions can expose a misregulation of phenotypes called a hidden reaction norm. Although an environment consists of multiple factors, how combinations of these factors influence a reaction norm is not well understood. To elucidate the combinatorial effects of environmental factors, we studied the leaf shape plasticity of the carnivorous pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis. Clonally propagated plants were subjected to 12-week-long growth experiments in different conditions controlled by growth chambers. Here, we show that the dimorphic response of forming a photosynthetic flat leaf or an insect-trapping pitcher leaf is regulated by two covarying environmental cues: temperature and photoperiod. Even within the normal ranges of temperature and photoperiod, unusual combinations of the two induced the production of malformed leaves that were rarely observed under the environmentally typical combinations. We identified such cases in combinations of a summer temperature with a short-to-neutral day length, whose average frequency in the natural Cephalotus habitats corresponded to a once-in-a-lifetime event for this perennial species. Our results suggest that even if individual cues are within the range of natural fluctuations, a hidden reaction norm can be exposed under their discordant combinations. We anticipate that climate change may challenge organismal responses through not only extreme cues but also through uncommon combinations of benign cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenji Fukushima
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.,Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs Platz 2, 97082 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hideki Narukawa
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Gergo Palfalvi
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
| | - Mitsuyasu Hasebe
- National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan.,Department of Basic Biology, School of Life Science, SOKENDAI (Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki 444-8585, Japan
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3
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Gallego-Tévar B, Grewell BJ, Drenovsky RE, Castillo JM. Transgressivity in Key Functional Traits Rather Than Phenotypic Plasticity Promotes Stress Tolerance in A Hybrid Cordgrass. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 8:E594. [PMID: 31842356 PMCID: PMC6963473 DOI: 10.3390/plants8120594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hybridization might promote offspring fitness via a greater tolerance to environmental stressors due to heterosis and higher levels of phenotypic plasticity. Thus, analyzing the phenotypic expression of hybrids provides an opportunity to elucidate further plant responses to environmental stress. In the case of coastal salt marshes, sea level rise subjects hybrids, and their parents, to longer tidal submergence and higher salinity. We analyzed the phenotypic expression patterns in the hybrid Spartina densiflora x foliosa relative to its parental species, native S. foliosa, and invasive S. densiflora, from the San Francisco Estuary when exposed to contrasting salinities and inundations in a mesocosm experiment. 37% of the recorded traits displayed no variability among parents and hybrids, 3% showed an additive inheritance, 37% showed mid-parent heterosis, 18% showed best-parent heterosis, and 5% presented worst-parent heterosis. Transgressivity, rather than phenotypic plasticity, in key functional traits of the hybrid, such as tiller height, conveyed greater stress tolerance to the hybrid when compared to the tolerance of its parents. As parental trait variability increased, phenotypic transgressivity of the hybrid increased and it was more important in response to inundation than salinity. Increases in salinity and inundation associated with sea level rise will amplify the superiority of the hybrid over its parental species. These results provide evidence of transgressive traits as an underlying source of adaptive variation that can facilitate plant invasions. The adaptive evolutionary process of hybridization is thought to support an increased invasiveness of plant species and their rapid evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Gallego-Tévar
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, 41080 Sevilla, Spain;
| | - Brenda J. Grewell
- USDA-ARS Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Research Unit, Department. of Plant Sciences, University of California, Mail Stop 4, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Rebecca E. Drenovsky
- Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH 44118, USA;
| | - Jesús M. Castillo
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, 41080 Sevilla, Spain;
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Ludewig K, Hanke JM, Wuthe B, Otte A, Mosner E, Eckstein RL, Donath TW. Differential effect of drought regimes on the seedling performance of six floodplain grassland species. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2018; 20:691-697. [PMID: 29577528 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The performance of seedlings is crucial for the survival and persistence of plant populations. Although drought frequently occurs in floodplains and can cause seedling mortality, studies on the effects of drought on seedlings of floodplain grasslands are scarce. We tested the hypotheses that drought reduces aboveground biomass, total biomass, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA), and increases root biomass and root-mass fraction (RMF) and that seedlings from species of wet floodplain grasslands are more affected by drought than species of dry grasslands. In a greenhouse study, we exposed seedlings of three confamilial pairs of species (Pimpinella saxifraga, Selinum carvifolia, Veronica teucrium, Veronica maritima, Sanguisorba minor, Sanguisorba officinalis) to increasing drought treatments. Within each plant family, one species is characteristic of wet and one of dry floodplain grasslands, confamilial in order to avoid phylogenetic bias of the results. In accordance with our hypotheses, drought conditions reduced aboveground biomass, total biomass, plant height, number of leaves and leaf area. Contrary to our hypotheses, drought conditions increased SLA and decreased root biomass and RMF of seedlings. Beyond the effects of the families, the results were species-specific (V. maritima being the most sensitive species) and habitat-specific. Species indicative of wet floodplain grasslands appear to be more sensitive to drought than species indicative of dry grasslands. Because of species- and habitat-specific responses to reduced water availability, future drought periods due to climate change may severely affect some species from dry and wet habitats, while others may be unaffected.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Ludewig
- Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (IFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - J M Hanke
- Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (IFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - B Wuthe
- Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (IFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - A Otte
- Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (IFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - E Mosner
- Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde (BfG), Koblenz, Germany
| | - R L Eckstein
- Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (IFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - T W Donath
- Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resource Management, Research Centre for Biosystems, Land Use and Nutrition (IFZ), Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Calf OW, Huber H, Peters JL, Weinhold A, van Dam NM. Glycoalkaloid composition explains variation in slug resistance in Solanum dulcamara. Oecologia 2018; 187:495-506. [PMID: 29383505 PMCID: PMC5997107 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4064-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In natural environments, plants have to deal with a wide range of different herbivores whose communities vary in time and space. It is believed that the chemical diversity within plant species has mainly arisen from selection pressures exerted by herbivores. So far, the effects of chemical diversity on plant resistance have mostly been assessed for arthropod herbivores. However, also gastropods, such as slugs, can cause extensive damage to plants. Here we investigate to what extent individual Solanum dulcamara plants differ in their resistance to slug herbivory and whether this variation can be explained by differences in secondary metabolites. We performed a series of preference assays using the grey field slug (Deroceras reticulatum) and S. dulcamara accessions from eight geographically distinct populations from the Netherlands. Significant and consistent variation in slug preference was found for individual accessions within and among populations. Metabolomic analyses showed that variation in steroidal glycoalkaloids (GAs) correlated with slug preference; accessions with high GA levels were consistently less damaged by slugs. One, strongly preferred, accession with particularly low GA levels contained high levels of structurally related steroidal compounds. These were conjugated with uronic acid instead of the glycoside moieties common for Solanum GAs. Our results illustrate how intraspecific variation in steroidal glycoside profiles affects resistance to slug feeding. This suggests that also slugs should be considered as important drivers in the co-evolution between plants and herbivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Onno W Calf
- Molecular Interaction Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research (IWWR), Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Heidrun Huber
- Experimental Plant Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research (IWWR), Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Janny L Peters
- Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research (IWWR), Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Weinhold
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Nicole M van Dam
- Molecular Interaction Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research (IWWR), Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger-Str. 159, 07743, Jena, Germany
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6
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Lortzing T, Firtzlaff V, Nguyen D, Rieu I, Stelzer S, Schad M, Kallarackal J, Steppuhn A. Transcriptomic responses of Solanum dulcamara to natural and simulated herbivory. Mol Ecol Resour 2017; 17:e196-e211. [PMID: 28449359 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Plants are attacked by diverse herbivores and respond with manifold defence responses. To study transcriptional and other early regulation events of these plant responses, herbivory is often simulated to standardize the temporal and spatial dynamics that vary tremendously for natural herbivory. Yet, to what extent such simulations of herbivory are able to elicit the same plant response as real herbivory remains largely undetermined. We examined the transcriptional response of a wild model plant to herbivory by lepidopteran larvae and to a commonly used herbivory simulation by applying the larvae's oral secretions to standardized wounds. We designed a microarray for Solanum dulcamara and showed that the transcriptional responses to real and to simulated herbivory by Spodoptera exigua overlapped moderately by about 40%. Interestingly, certain responses were mimicked better than others; 60% of the genes upregulated but not even a quarter of the genes downregulated by herbivory were similarly affected by application of oral secretions to wounds. While the regulation of genes involved in signalling, defence and water stress was mimicked well by the simulated herbivory, most of the genes related to photosynthesis, carbohydrate- and lipid metabolism were exclusively regulated by real herbivory. Thus, wounding and application of oral secretions decently mimics herbivory-induced defence responses but likely not the reallocation of primary metabolites induced by real herbivory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Lortzing
- Molecular Ecology, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vivien Firtzlaff
- Applied Zoology/Animal Ecology, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Duy Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ivo Rieu
- Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Stelzer
- Molecular Ecology, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Anke Steppuhn
- Molecular Ecology, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Nguyen D, D'Agostino N, Tytgat TOG, Sun P, Lortzing T, Visser EJW, Cristescu SM, Steppuhn A, Mariani C, van Dam NM, Rieu I. Drought and flooding have distinct effects on herbivore-induced responses and resistance in Solanum dulcamara. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2016; 39:1485-99. [PMID: 26759219 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
In the field, biotic and abiotic stresses frequently co-occur. As a consequence, common molecular signalling pathways governing adaptive responses to individual stresses can interact, resulting in compromised phenotypes. How plant signalling pathways interact under combined stresses is poorly understood. To assess this, we studied the consequence of drought and soil flooding on resistance of Solanum dulcamara to Spodoptera exigua and their effects on hormonal and transcriptomic profiles. The results showed that S. exigua larvae performed less well on drought-stressed plants than on well-watered and flooded plants. Both drought and insect feeding increased abscisic acid and jasmonic acid (JA) levels, whereas flooding did not induce JA accumulation. RNA sequencing analyses corroborated this pattern: drought and herbivory induced many biological processes that were repressed by flooding. When applied in combination, drought and herbivory had an additive effect on specific processes involved in secondary metabolism and defence responses, including protease inhibitor activity. In conclusion, drought and flooding have distinct effects on herbivore-induced responses and resistance. Especially, the interaction between abscisic acid and JA signalling may be important to optimize plant responses to combined drought and insect herbivory, making drought-stressed plants more resistant to insects than well-watered and flooded plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duy Nguyen
- Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500, GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nunzio D'Agostino
- Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria, Centro di ricerca per l'orticoltura, 84098, Pontecagnano, (SA), Italy
| | - Tom O G Tytgat
- Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500, GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Pulu Sun
- Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500, GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Laboratoire de Biotechnologies Végétales Appliquées aux Plantes Aromatiques et Médicinales, Université Jean Monnet, 42023, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Tobias Lortzing
- Molecular Ecology Group, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 12163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eric J W Visser
- Department of Experimental Plant Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500, GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Simona M Cristescu
- Department of Molecular and Laser Physics, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6500, GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anke Steppuhn
- Molecular Ecology Group, Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 12163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Celestina Mariani
- Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500, GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole M van Dam
- Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500, GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Ecology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Ivo Rieu
- Department of Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University, 6500, GL, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Fediuk O, Polishсhuk O, Bilyavska N. Dynamics of changes in the intensity of respiration of Galanthus nivalis (Amaryllidaceae) leaves under different values of low temperature and humidity. UKRAINIAN BOTANICAL JOURNAL 2016. [DOI: 10.15407/ukrbotj73.03.283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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De Kok LJ, Grantz DA, Burkey KO. Plants and the changing environment. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2016; 18 Suppl 1:3-4. [PMID: 26769096 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- L J De Kok
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 11103, 9700 CC, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - D A Grantz
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Parlier, 93648, CA, USA.
| | - K O Burkey
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Plant Science Research, Department of Crop Science, North Carolina State University, 3127 Ligon Street, Raleigh, 27607, NC, USA.
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Zhang Q, Visser EJW, de Kroon H, Huber H. Life cycle stage and water depth affect flooding-induced adventitious root formation in the terrestrial species Solanum dulcamara. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2015; 116:279-90. [PMID: 26105188 PMCID: PMC4512197 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcv095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Flooding can occur at any stage of the life cycle of a plant, but often adaptive responses of plants are only studied at a single developmental stage. It may be anticipated that juvenile plants may respond differently from mature plants, as the amount of stored resources may differ and morphological changes can be constrained. Moreover, different water depths may require different strategies to cope with the flooding stress, the expression of which may also depend on developmental stage. This study investigated whether flooding-induced adventitious root formation and plant growth were affected by flooding depth in Solanum dulcamara plants at different developmental stages. METHODS Juvenile plants without pre-formed adventitious root primordia and mature plants with primordia were subjected to shallow flooding or deep flooding for 5 weeks. Plant growth and the timing of adventitious root formation were monitored during the flooding treatments. KEY RESULTS Adventitious root formation in response to shallow flooding was significantly constrained in juvenile S. dulcamara plants compared with mature plants, and was delayed by deep flooding compared with shallow flooding. Complete submergence suppressed adventitious root formation until up to 2 weeks after shoots restored contact with the atmosphere. Independent of developmental stage, a strong positive correlation was found between adventitious root formation and total biomass accumulation during shallow flooding. CONCLUSIONS The potential to deploy an escape strategy (i.e. adventitious root formation) may change throughout a plant's life cycle, and is largely dependent on flooding depth. Adaptive responses at a given stage of the life cycle thus do not necessarily predict how the plant responds to flooding in another growth stage. As variation in adventitious root formation also correlates with finally attained biomass, this variation may form the basis for variation in resistance to shallow flooding among plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Department of Experimental Plant Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Eric J W Visser
- Department of Experimental Plant Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Hans de Kroon
- Department of Experimental Plant Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Heidrun Huber
- Department of Experimental Plant Ecology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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