Improvement of paper mulberry tolerance to abiotic stresses by ectopic expression of tall fescue FaDREB1

Dehydration-responsive element binding/C-repeat-binding factors (DREB/CBF) control the activity of multiple stress response genes and therefore represent attractive targets for genetic improvement of abiotic stress tolerance. Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera L. Vent) is well known for its bark fibers and high levels of chalcone and flavonoid derivatives. Transgenic paper mulberry plants expressing a tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) FaDREB1 gene under the control of CaMV 35S were produced to examine the potential utility of FaDREB1 to increase the tolerance of paper mulberry plants to abiotic stress. The overexpressing FaDREB1 plants showed higher salt and drought tolerance than the wild-type plants (WT). After 13 days of withholding water, or 15 days in the presence of 250 mM NaCl, all the WT plants died, while the over-expressing FaDREB1 plants survived. The FaDREB1 plants had higher leaf water and leaf chlorophyll contents, accumulated more proline and soluble sugars, and had less ion leakage (which reflects membrane damage) than the WT plants had under high salt- and water-deficient conditions. The 35S promoter-driven expression of FaDREB1 did not cause growth retardation under normal growth conditions. Therefore, improved tolerance to multiple environmental stresses in paper mulberry might be achieved via genetic engineering through the ectopic expression of an FaDREB1 gene.     

Gas exchange, water relations and osmotic adjustment in Phillyrea latifolia grown at various salinity concentrations

Leaf gas exchange, water relations and osmotic adjustment were studied in hydroponically grown Phillyrea latifolia L. plants exposed to 5 weeks of salinity stress (0, 80, 160, 240 and 320 mM NaCl) followed by 5 weeks of treatment with half-strength Hoagland solution. Whole-plant relative growth rate and root/shoot and lateral/structural root ratios were also evaluated. Net CO2 assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate were markedly decreased by all of the salt treatments. Growth was also strongly depressed by all salt treatments, especially lateral root growth. Leaf water potential decreased soon after salinity stress was imposed, whereas there was a lag of several weeks before leaf osmotic potential decreased in response to the salt treatments. After 5 weeks of salinization, leaf turgor of salt-treated plants was similar to that of controls. Although Na+ + Cl- contributed little to the salt-induced changes in osmotic potential at full turgor (Psi(piFT)), the contributions of K+, mannitol (Man) and glucose (Glc) to Psi(piFT) markedly increased as external salinity increased. Salt accumulation was negligible in the youngest leaves, which mostly accumulated soluble carbohydrates and K+; in contrast, old leaves served as storage sinks for Na+ and Cl-. Photosynthetic performance of salt-treated plants fully recovered once salt was leached from the root zone, with the recovery rate depending on the severity of the salt stress previously experienced by the plants. Recovery of gas exchange occurred even though the leaves still had a salt load similar to that detected in leaves at the end of the 5-week salinity period, and had markedly lower concentrations of K+ and soluble carbohydrates than control leaves. We conclude that salt-induced water stress primarily controlled gas exchange of salt-treated P. latifolia leaves, whereas the salt load in the leaves did not cause irreversible damage to the photosynthetic apparatus.     

Metabolic responses to water deficit in two Eucalyptus globulus clones with contrasting drought sensitivity

We compared the metabolic responses of leaves and roots of two Eucalyptus globulus Labill. clones differing in drought sensitivity to a slowly imposed water deficit. Responses measured included changes in concentrations of soluble and insoluble sugars, proline, total protein and several antioxidant enzymes. In addition to the general decrease in growth caused by water deficit, we observed a decrease in osmotic potential when drought stress became severe. In both clones, the decrease was greater in roots than in leaves, consistent with the observed increases in concentrations of soluble sugars and proline in these organs. In roots of both clones, glutathione reductase activity increased significantly in response to water deficit, suggesting that this enzyme plays a protective role in roots during drought stress by catalyzing the catabolism of reactive oxygen species. Clone CN5 has stress avoidance mechanisms that account for its lower sensitivity to drought compared with Clone ST51.     

Physiological and morphological adaptations of the fruit tree Ziziphus rotundifolia in response to progressive drought stress

The physiological basis of drought resistance in Ziziphus rotundifolia Lamk., which is an important, multipurpose fruit tree of the northwest Indian arid zone, was investigated in a greenhouse experiment. Three irrigation regimes were imposed over a 34-day period: an irrigation treatment, a gradual drought stress treatment (50% of water supplied in the irrigation treatment) and a rapid drought stress treatment (no irrigation). Changes in gas exchange, water relations, carbon isotope composition and solute concentrations of leaves, stems and roots were determined. The differential rate of stress development in the two drought treatments did not result in markedly different physiological responses, but merely affected the time at which they were expressed. The initial response to decreasing soil water content was reduced stomatal conductance, effectively maintaining predawn leaf water potential (Psi(leaf)), controlling water loss and increasing intrinsic water-use efficiency, while optimizing carbon gain during drought. Carbon isotope composition (delta13C) of leaf tissue sap provided a more sensitive indicator of changes in short-term water-use efficiency than delta13C of bulk leaf tissue. As drought developed, osmotic potential at full turgor decreased and total solute concentrations increased in leaves, indicating osmotic adjustment. Decreases in leaf starch concentrations and concomitant increases in hexose sugars and sucrose suggested a shift in carbon partitioning in favor of soluble carbohydrates. In severely drought-stressed leaves, high leaf nitrate reductase activities were paralleled by increases in proline concentration, suggesting an osmoprotective role for proline. As water deficit increased, carbon was remobilized from leaves and preferentially redistributed to stems and roots, and leaves were shed, resulting in reduced whole-plant transpiration and enforced dormancy. Thus, Z. rotundifolia showed a range of responses to different drought intensities indicating a high degree of plasticity in response to water deficits.     

Physio-ecological response of Haloxylon persicum photosynthetic shoots to drought stress

This paper studied the seasonal characteristics to resist the drought stress of Haloxylon persicum Bge. Ex Boiss. et Buhse photosynthetic shoots at habitat. The results showed that the predominant drought resistance factors were varied at the different stage from growth to development. In the blooming season (from May 31 to June 29), endogenous ABA contents were rare; stomatal conductance and photosynthesis intensity were the highest at the whole stage from growth to development; soluble sugars contents had a decreasing trend and proline contents increased a little that made proline become the predominant factor to resist the drought under this light water stress. In the hot summer (from June 29 to July 26), ABA contents accumulated rapidly; stomatal conductance dropped to the lowest level of the growth and development; chlorophyll was also decomposed; both soluble sugars and proline contents showed the trend of quickly accumulating, but the former was faster than the latter. It was due to stomatal limitation and osmotic organic molecules accumulation that would affect the photosynthetic shoots to resist severe drought stress. At the late period of the development (from Aug 9 to Aug 22), ABA rapidly accumulated, its contents got to the highest level of whole life-span; stomatal conductance increased a little; proline and soluble sugars contents changed little at high level; while the ratios of ABA to CTK content and ABA to IAA content got up obviously, the effect to resist drought stress on high content ABA was inhibited by endogenous plant hormone CTK and IAA, then the continuing accumulation of proline and soluble sugars would be prevented. Osmosis of organic molecules was the most important factor to adjust leaves to severe water stress at this period. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2005, 41(5) [译自, 林业科学 2005, 41(5)]     

Improved salt tolerance of Populus davidiana × P. bolleana overexpressed LEA from Tamarix androssowii

Development of transgenic plants with tolerance to environmental stress is an important goal of plant biotechnology. Late-embryogenesis-abundant(LEA) proteins accumulate in seeds during late embryogenesis, where they protect cellular membranes and macromolecules against drought. In this work, we transferred the Tamarix androssowii LEA gene into hybrids of Populus davidiana×P. bolleana. We compared relative rates of height growth, chlorophyll fluorescence kinetic parameters, and leaf Na+ levels of six TaLEA-containing lines with non-transferred plants(NT), all grown under 0.8% NaCl stress condition. Survival percentages of transgenic lines were all higher than for NT controls after rehydration and the survival percentage of SL2 was five-fold higher than for NT controls. Seedling height increased 48.7% in SL2(from the onset of induced stress to the end of the growing season), 31% more than for the NT controls. Chlorophyll fluorescence kinetic parameters showed a marked increase in photosynthetic capacity in SL2 and SL5. Na+ levels in young leaves of transgenic lines were lower than in control NT leaves, but higher in yellow and withered leaves, indicating improved salt tolerance in transgenic lines.     

Osmoregulation mechanism of drought stress and genetic engineering strategies for improving drought resistance in plants

Drought, one of the main adverse environmental factors, obviously affected plant growth and development. Many adaptive strategies have been developed in plants for coping with drought or water stress, among which osmoregulation is one of the important factors of plant drought tolerance. Many substances play important roles in plant osmoregulation for drought resistance, including proline, glycine betaine, Lea proteins and soluble sugars such as levan, trehalose, sucrose, etc. The osmoregulation mechanism and the genetic engineering of plant drought-tolerance are reviewed in this paper.     

盐分胁迫对公路护坡植物紫穗槐适应性的影响

本实验通过对公路两侧路肩及护坡回填土中的盐分程度和处理组不同浓度盐分的生长环境设定,对3年生紫穗槐的植物生理生化特性的数据分析,研究紫穗槐耐盐碱实际的应用效果。研究结果证实,盐分胁迫浓度的升高,对紫穗槐表现的蒸腾速率(Tr)、净光合速率(Pn)、K+含量等技术指标呈现下降趋势,而过氧化物酶(POD)活性、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、游离脯氨酸(Free Pro)、可溶性糖、Na+等多种物质含量呈明显升高。叶绿素总量、叶绿素a和b等含量随种植土中盐分浓度减小而呈对应减少。从分析各项指标数据得出紫穗槐3年生苗木对盐渍环境具有很强的适应性和良好的自我调节功能。     

Osmotic regulation in leaves and roots of olive trees during a water deficit and rewatering

We evaluated the osmotic adjustment capacity of leaves and roots of young olive (Olea europaea L.) trees during a period of water deficit and subsequent rewatering. The trials were carried out in Basilicata (40 degrees 24' N, 16 degrees 48' E) on 2-year-old self-rooted olive plants (cv. 'Coratina'). Plants were subjected to one of four drought treatments. After 13 days of drought, plants reached mean predawn leaf water potentials of -0.45 +/- 0.015 MPa (control), -1.65 +/- 0.021 (low stress), -3.25 +/- 0.035 (medium stress) and -5.35 +/- 0.027 MPa (high stress). Total osmotic adjustment increased with increasing severity of drought stress. Trees in the high stress treatment showed total osmotic adjustments ranging between 2.4 MPa at 0500 h and 3.8 MPa at 1800 h on the last day of the drought period. Osmotic adjustment allowed the leaves to reach leaf water potentials of about -7.0 MPa. Active osmotic adjustment at predawn decreased during the rewatering period in both leaves and roots. Stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate declined with increasing drought stress. Osmotic adjustment in olive trees was associated with active and passive osmotic regulation of drought tolerance, providing an important mechanism for avoiding water loss.     

Physiological traits of two Populus x euramericana clones,Luisa Avanzo and Dorskamp,during a water stress and re-watering cycle

We compared responses to drought and re-watering of greenhouse-grown cuttings of Populus x euramericana (Dode) Guinier clones, Luisa Avanzo and Dorskamp. Total leaf area, leaf number, leaf area increment and stomatal conductance were evaluated periodically during a 29-day drought period and for 16 days after re-watering. Soil water content and predawn leaf water potential (Psi(wp)) were measured on Days 29 and 45. On the same days, relative water content (RWC), specific leaf area (SLA), nitrogen, chlorophyll, soluble sugars, total phenols, flavanols and antioxidant activity were determined for leaves taken from the bottom to the top of each cutting. Leaves of Luisa Avanzo cuttings grew more rapidly than leaves of Dorskamp and exhibited higher SLA, but lower concentrations of nitrogen, chlorophyll and soluble sugars and lower antioxidant activity per unit area. On Day 29, after withholding water, both clones had closed their stomata, reduced rates of leaf growth, and lower Psi(wp) and RWC; however, the clones differed in their responses to soil water depletion. Compared to Dorskamp, Luisa Avanzo closed its stomata earlier and maintained higher Psi(wp), but lower RWC and leaf sugar concentrations. Antioxidant activity of leaf methanolic extracts decreased in response to water stress only in Luisa Avanzo. Leaf physiology and its modulation by water stress were age dependent in Luisa Avanzo.     

Drought stress tolerance analysis of Populus ussuriensis clones with different ploidies

The selection of drought-tolerant plants is an important aspect of plant breeding.We studied physiological and biochemical mechanisms of different ploidies of Populus ussuriensis Kom.that relate to drought stress tolerance.We used a 5%(v/v)polyethylene glycol(PEG-6000)solution to simulate drought stress.We recorded leaf phenotypes including color,dry area and curl degree.We evaluated sequential variations in some drought stress tolerance-related physiological and biochemical indices and compared these among diploid clones(CK),triploid clones(T12)and tetraploid clones(F20).T12 leaves exhibited slightly more drought stress damage than CK and F20 leaves.CK leaves suffered the most severe drought stress damage.The physiological and biochemical indices of the different ploidies differed significantly 12 days after drought stress treatment.The activities of superoxide dismutase,peroxidase,catalase and proline in the triploid(T12)leaves were the highest.The relative electric conductivity and malondialdehyde content of T12 leaves were the lowest.The index values of F20 were between those ofthe diploid and triploid.In consideration of these results,the drought resistance of the three different ploidies of P.ussuriensis can be ranked as T12>F20>CK.We speculate that the gene expression patterns of polyploid clones of poplar will change after genome doubling and that some of the drought stress tolerance-related physiological and biochemical indices will be improved,resulting in greater drought tolerance of polyploid clones.     

辽宁阜新地区不同种源文冠果对干旱响应研究

以辽宁阜新种植的不同种源文冠果为研究对象,采用水分胁迫的方法探讨不同种源文冠果植物体内脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白质对干旱环境的响应。研究结果表明:脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量随着水分胁迫的增加而增加,以延安和沈阳的2个种源的耐旱性较好。可溶性蛋白质变化幅度不大,不适宜作为反映文冠果的耐旱能力重要指标。     

Evaluation of subtropical ornamental trees for reclaiming salinity affected lands

This study was conducted to evaluate the tolerance of 1-year-old seedlings of ten subtropical ornamental tree species against a range of salinity levels of Na Cl from May 2015 to October 2015. The levels were further enhanced from November to April 2017 as 100% survival was observed in the initial concentrations for all species.The seedlings were grown during the first week of April2015 in 1000 earthen pots containing soil: farmyard manure(2:1), irrigated with tap water for 1 month followed by saline irrigation in May by maintaining electrical conductivity at 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, 2.25, and 3.00 d S/m for 30,40, 50, 60, 90, and 120 m M Na Cl. Every 3 months,heights, relative leaf water content, and percent survival were determined;total soluble sugars of the upper leaves of each tree were quantified. All species exhibited consistent early growth and survival when supplied with 30, 40, 50 and 60 m M of Na Cl. Koelreutaria paniculata, Ficus benjamina, Putranjiva roxburghii, Bauhinia purpurea and Millettia ovalifolia were sensitive to elevated salinity levels and did not survive at the highest salt concentrations of 90 and 120 m M.     

巴东木莲幼苗对干旱胁迫的生长和生理响应

采用盆栽人工模拟控水法干旱胁迫,探讨巴东木莲Manglietia patungensis幼苗的生长和生理特性对干旱胁迫的响应情况,随着干旱胁迫的加剧,巴东木莲幼苗苗高、地径和生物量逐渐降低,可溶性蛋白含量逐渐升高,叶绿素含量在对照处理略高,在轻度胁迫处理和中度胁迫处理明显降低。随着胁迫时间的延长,巴东木莲幼苗叶片组织相对含水量降低,丙二醛含量先升后降再升,脯氨酸含量逐渐升高,保护酶SOD活性均呈先增加而后降低的变化趋势。研究表明:在不同程度的干旱胁迫条件下,巴东木莲幼苗的生长受到一定程度的抑制,但能够通过调节自身的保护酶系统活性和渗透调节物质含量来减轻干旱伤害,维持植物体的正常生理代谢功能,从而表现出一定的抗旱耐旱潜力。     

荒漠河岸林2种典型植物的耐盐性比较

在新疆尉犁县的天然荒漠河岸林里,选择了3个土壤盐度不同的样地,测定了胡杨和柽柳叶片的脯氨酸含量、K+/Na+、氯离子(Cl-)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量等5个生理指标,并利用模糊数学隶属函数法对二者的耐盐性进行了综合评价.结果表明:随着土壤盐胁迫的增强,胡杨叶片的脯氨酸含量总体上呈增加趋势...     

干旱胁迫下3个甜角品种幼苗的生理生化响应及抗旱性评价

在大棚模拟持续干旱条件下,测定了3个甜角品种PRAKAYTONG(闪金)、SRITONG(金色)、SRITONGBAO (轻金色)幼苗叶片的细胞质膜透性、丙二醛(MDA)含量、渗透调节物质含量、保护酶活性、叶片含水量和叶绿素含量,研究甜角对干旱胁迫的生理生化响应,并用抗旱系数法和隶属函数法进行抗旱性综合评价.结果表明:随着干旱胁迫时间的延长及胁迫程度的加重,幼苗叶片的细胞质膜透性、MDA含量、脯氨酸含量、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量都呈增加趋势;SOD和POD活性则呈先上升后下降趋势;叶片水分含量和叶绿素呈减少趋势.经抗旱指数法和隶属函数法分析,3个品种的抗旱性从强到弱依次表现为PRAKAYTONG＞ SRITONGBAO＞ SRITONG.     

Protective enzyme activity and physiological properties of four mulberry varieties affected by drought stress in the Panxi Region of Sichuan Province, China

In order to identify the effects of drought stress on protective enzyme activity and physiological properties, four mulberry varieties, i.e.,‘Nanye-1’, ‘Yunsang-1’, ‘Xinyizhilai’ and ‘Husang-32’ in the Panxi Region of Sichuan Province, China, were selected. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) in four mulberry varieties was determined. Soluble protein, soluble sugar, proline, net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate of mulberry leaves were analyzed. The resul...     

喀斯特石漠化地区植物对干旱胁迫的适应性研究进展

喀斯特石漠化地区复杂的人类活动和特殊的地上与地下二元结构水文系统以及碳酸岩丰富的节理裂隙导致了土壤水分渗漏强烈，地表干旱缺水，临时性干旱严重，使该区植物普遍遭受干旱胁迫，影响植物的生长与发育。文中通过综述干旱胁迫对喀斯特地区植物的影响，从植物形态特征、光合作用、渗透调节物质和抗氧化酶系统等方面分析植物应对干旱胁迫的机理机制，得出喀斯特地区植物一般具有发达的叶片表皮毛、较厚的角质层、强壮发达的根系特征并通过叶片的气孔调节应对干旱。此外，植物体通过积累脯氨酸、可溶性糖等渗透调节物质，增强抗氧化酶系统的活性来抗旱。提出通过抗旱锻炼、矿质肥料、化学和微生物调控以及抗旱品种的选育等途径来提高植物的抗旱性。建议今后的研究应加强模拟实验与野外验证实验相结合、分析植物对多种逆境的交叉响应，综合分析生长生理生态基因等特征，建立符合当地植物的抗旱评价体系，以及研究喀斯特和非喀斯特环境中植物对干旱胁迫适应的差异性来分析植物对干旱胁迫适应的机理机制，以期为深入研究喀斯特石漠化地区植物的抗旱性能提供参考，并为植被恢复及物种选择提供支持。     

Response of five tree species to salinity and waterlogging: shoot and root biomass and relationships with leaf and root ion concentrations

Unproductive saline and waterlogged (WT) wastelands could be beneficially transformed into agroforestry systems using trees tolerant to these stresses. We studied the salinity and waterlogging tolerance of five Australian tree species (Acacia salicina, Casuarina glauca, Casuarina obesa, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Eucalyptus occidentalis) during seedling stage and their relationships with root and leaf ion concentrations. 8-month old plants were exposed for 5 months to five irrigation water salinity treatments (EC values between 2 and 22 dS m^?1) and two waterlogging treatments (drained or WT). The salinity tolerance of the five species was high, although decreased in WT conditions. Irrespective of salinity, the two Casuarina species were more tolerant and the other three species were less tolerant to WT than drained conditions. In all species, salinity and waterlogging increased leaf Cl^? and Na⁺ and decreased leaf Ca²⁺, but not leaf K⁺. Root Cl^? and Na⁺ increased with salinity but not with waterlogging. Salinity tolerance was negatively correlated with Cl^? and Na⁺ leaf accumulation rates per unit increase in salinity. Waterlogging reduced the ability of the seedlings to exclude Cl^? and Na⁺ from the leaves. The two most salt tolerant Casuarina species under both drained and WT conditions showed the highest leaf Cl^? and Na⁺ exclusion and the highest root Cl^? and Na⁺ accumulation, suggesting that sequestration of these toxic ions in their roots was a significant salt-tolerant mechanism. Revegetation of saline and WT wastelands with these tolerant Casuarina species could be profitably used for biomass, biofuel and renewable energy production.     

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on leaf solutes and root absorption areas of trifoliate orange seedlings under water stress conditions

The effects of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus mosseae on plant growth, leaf solutes and root absorption area of trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata (L.) Raf.) seedlings were studied in potted culture under water stress conditions. Inoculation with G. mosseae increased plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, shoot dry weight, root dry weight and plant dry weight, when the soil water content was 20%, 16% and 12%. AM inoculation also promoted the active and total absorption area of root system and absorption of phosphorus from the rhizosphere, enhanced the content of soluble sugar in leaves and roots, and reduced proline content in leaves. AM seedings had higher plant water use efficiency and higher drought tolerance than non-AM seedlings. Effects of G. mosseae inoculation on trifoliate orange seedlings under 20% and 16% soil water content were more significant than under 12% soil water content. AM infection was severely restrained by 12% soil water content. Thus, effects of AM fungi on plants were probably positively related to the extent of root colonization by AM fungi. The mechanism of AM fungi in enhancing drought resistance of host plants ascribed to greater osmotic adjustment and greater absorption area of root system by AM colonization. __________ Translated from Journal of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, 2005, 30(5): 583–588 [译自: 植物生理与分子生物学报, 2005, 30(5): 583–588]