Enzyme and hormone activities related to phosphorus uptake limitation in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

Corn has several mechanisms that allow it to perceive the incoming water deficit and rapidly regulate its growth and physiology to cope with this stress. Among these regulated physiological responses, phytohormones, such as abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA3), indole acetic acid (IAA), and zeatin (ZT) have important roles. To evaluate changes in hormonal status of corn hybrids under different drought stress levels, a greenhouse study was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Iran, during summer 2010. Treatments consisted of drought stress in five levels: 100% field capacity (F.C.) as control, 80, 60, 40, and 20% F.C. and three corn hybrids, including single cross 704 (SC704), Maxima, and double cross 370 (DC370). Results showed that drought stress significantly affected phytohormones concentration, ABA concentration was increased and GA3, IAA and ZT concentrations were decreased. Indeed, there was an initial increase (about 13.5% more than control) in IAA concentration. In severe drought condition, ABA concentration was eventually decreased (37.8% less than the first drought level, i.e., 80% F.C.). The ratios of GA3, IAA and ZT to ABA concentration were also decreased. Among hybrids, SC704 showed the highest phytohormone concentrations and DC370 had the highest ratios of GA3, IAA, and ZT to ABA concentrations. Overall, the results of this study suggest that although mild drought stress was associated with greater ABA concentration, it had negative impact on GA3, IAA, and ZT concentrations. Furthermore, SC704 hybrid appeared to be more resistant to drought stress than the other hybrids.

We investigated the effect of γ-irradiation (4–50 Gy) of barley seeds (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. Nur) on the content of endogenous phytohormones–stimulators of plant growth and development: indol-3-acetic acid (IAA), indolyl-3-butyric acid (IBA), zeatin and abscisic acid (ABA). The ratio (IAA + IBA + zeatin)/ABA from the third to the seventh day of germination has been measured. It was shown that the changes in the content of phytohormones as a function of the radiation dose were nonlinear. In the dose range of 4–20 Gy, phytohormones balance was changed due to increased content of growth stimulators and decreased ABA content. Using a dose of 50 Gy led primarily to a decrease in the content of growth stimulators and an increase in ABA content, and the ratio (IAA + IBA + zeatin)/ABA shifted toward ABA content.

The unpredictable precipitation and water deficit conditions in semiarid regions significantly reduce the yield of summer maize. The exogenous application of plant growth regulators can be used as a strategy to enhance plant stress tolerance and improve the growth and yield of maize under semiarid conditions. Here, we studied the protective role of melatonin application on maize yield using grain filling rate and hormonal crosstalk in maize grains. In the first field experiment, seeds were soaked with melatonin at a concentration of 0 (SM0 ), 25 (SM1 ), 50 (SM2 ), and 75 μM (SM3 ) μM. In contrast, in the second experiment, melatonin was applied on the foliage at the ninth leaf stage at a concentration of 0 (FM0 ), 25 (FM1 ), 50 (FM2 ), and 75 (FM3 ) μM. Our findings showed that melatonin treatments as seed soaking significantly increased single seed weight, seed filling rate in superior, medium and inferior seeds by regulating the hormone levels compared to foliar application. Application of melatonin significantly increased the zeatin+zeatin riboside (Z+ZR), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and gibberellic acid (GA) contents. However, it significantly inhibited the contents of abscisic acid (ABA) during the seed filling period. The content of Z+ZR, IAA, and GA was positively correlated with the maximum seed filling rate, seed weight, and mean filling rate in middle, superior and lower seeds, while the ABA was negatively correlated. The ABA content in inferior seeds was positively correlated with the maximum and mean seed filling rate. In semiarid regions, melatonin treatment of SM2 and FM2 significantly increased the dry matter per plant, 100-grain weight, seed filling rate, IAA, Z+ZR, GA contents, ear characteristics, and maize yield.

Aims An ectomycorrhizal fungus (ECMF) may enhance plant drought resistance. However, there is limited information regarding the effects of ECMFs on drought resistance in Pinus massoniana Lamb., a native species representing an afforestation pioneer tree in subtropical regions of China. Methods In this study, a pot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of ECMF Suillus luteus inoculation on the root morphology and endogenous hormones of P. massoniana, including roots, leaves, and stems, under various water treatment conditions. Four water levels (regular, light, moderate, and severe drought) and three inoculations (inoculated Suillus luteus, numbered S12 and S13, and non-ECMF-inoculated) were compared using a factorial design. Results Under drought stress, P. massoniana seedlings inoculated with S12 and S13 had significantly increased root morphology development (p < 0.05). Light drought positively influenced root development, resulting in a more than twofold increase in root length and root surface area compared to non-inoculated seedlings. Concentrations of gibberellic acid (GA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in roots, stems, and leaves of inoculated S12 and S13 plants were elevated, whereas abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations were significantly lower, compared to non-inoculated seedlings. The ABA concentrations in the roots of S12 and S13 inoculated seedlings under light drought stress were 1.5 times lower than those in non-inoculated controls. Moreover, root development was positively correlated with plant total GA, IAA, and ZR but negatively correlated with ABA. ConclusionsS. luteus can promote the root growth and development of P. massoniana seedlings, notably by regulating the balance in the concentration of endogenous hormones, thus improving the drought resistance of P. massoniana seedlings.

In order to investigate the possible relationship between endogenous hormones and seed filling in soybeans, concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and cytokinins (ZR) in seed, leaf, and pod wall were determined during seed filling of 3 soybean cultivars differing in seed size and quality. All cultivars were grown at 3 densities. The large-seeded cultivar had a strong and greater ability to accumulate photosynthate during seed filling. The genetic trait of seed size was fully expressed at low density. The large-seeded cultivar had a much higher ABA concentration in seed than the moderate and small-seeded cultivars before physiological maturity. ABA concentration in the large-seeded cultivar seed was 40% greater than that of the small-seeded cultivar at 30 days after flowering. Higher densities increased ABA concentrations in seeds. Two peaks of seed GA3 concentration were observed during seed filling. GA3 concentrations at all densities were similar. The peaks of IAA concentration in the 3 cultivars uniformly occurred at 50 days after flowering. The large-seeded cultivar had greater peak concentrations of GA3 and IAA in seed than the other cultivars, while the peak concentration of ZR was highest in the small-seeded cultivar. The concentrations of ABA in leaf increased with time while that of GA3 decreased. The large-seeded cultivar had higher ABA and IAA concentration in leaf while the small-seeded cultivar consistently had higher GA3 concentration in leaf. ZR was present in a smaller amount in the leaf, and was not detected in the pod wall. The large-seeded cultivar maintained higher IAA concentration in pod wall. ABA concentration in seed was positively correlated with seed-filling rate (P < 0.01, r = 0.85**, 0.92**, and 0.83** for large-, moderate- and small-seeded cultivars respectively).The concentration of GA3 in seed was significantly correlated with the seed-filling rate in large- and moderate-seeded cultivars (P < 0.01, r = 0.87**; P < 0.05, r = 0.63*), and no correlation was found for the small-seeded cultivar. There was no correlation between the concentrations of seed IAA, ZR, and seed-filling rate. There was a parallel relationship between seed growth and leaf/pod wall ABA concentration. Thus, ABA might offer a driving force for photosynthate phloem unloading in the seed coat. Lower concentration of ABA and GA3 in the leaf than in seed suggests that most of the two hormones is transported to seed. The mechanism of IAA in seed growth and GA3 concentration and its dynamic in seed quality need further investigation.

Endogenous free abscisic acid (ABA), indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellins (GAs) were identified and quantified in whole white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss) seeds, zygotic embryos and megagametophytes by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography‐selected ion monitoring‐mass spectrometry. In seeds, the ABA content was high at the early embryo developmental stage and underwent a further rapid increase at the precotyledonary stage about 4 weeks after pollination (AFP). This latter increase in ABA corresponded with an increase in seed dry weight 4–6 weeks AFP. Increases of ABA continued until the late maturation stage (8 weeks AFP). The endogenous ABA concentration on a dry weight basis was higher in embryos than in megagametophytes, but the total ABA content per structure was lower in embryos than in megagametophytes because the size and weight of these two structures were different. At the late maturation stage, ABA amounts decreased earlier in embryos (8 weeks AFP) than in megagametophytes (10 weeks AFP). Low concentrations of ABA were observed in embryos and megagametophytes of stored seeds. During development, the endogenous IAA amount in the megagametophytes declined after pollination. This was followed by an increase from 2 to 6 weeks AFP. During late maturation, the IAA content increased in megagametophytes but decreased in the embryos. Throughout seed development, GA4 slightly decreased while GA9 increased. Endogenous GA7 remained very low throughout. In stored seeds, amounts of both IAA and GAs were lower than in developing seeds. Concomitant with a rapid increase in seed dry weight, seed moisture content (MC) decreased sharply between precotyledonary stage and early cotyledonary stage (4 and 6 weeks AFP). Seeds could absorb water and germinate after a significant decrease of MC and at a high endogenous ABA content (8 weeks AFP). These results suggest that endogenous ABA, IAA and GAs are involved in white spruce embryogenesis. There are relatively high ABA and IAA contents in the embryo environment but the GAs checked in this study are low.

Pseudomonas species have founded as greatest and potentially most promising group of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPMP3 is an important PGPR isolated from oil palm rhizosphere. This rhizobacteria is likely to synthesize and release phytohormone indole-3 acetic acid (IAA). Production of IAA is one of the main reasons to promote plant growth and yield. The aim of this study was to detect, identify and quantify the IAA production by P. aeruginosa UPMP3 in vitro and its influence on oil palm seedling growth. Nutrient broth medium supplemented with 1-5 mg/ml L-tryptophan and without L- tryptophan were used for bacterial culture. The pH levels of culture media were optimized under shaken and static conditions and incubated at 28±2°C in different incubation periods. The production of IAA by P. aeruginosa UPMP3 was extracted, purified, detected and quantified by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analyses. Production of IAA was quantified by HPLC in liquid culture and achieved 12.08µg/ml with a retention time of 13.711 min. On the other hand, the maximum 52 µg/ml IAA was recorded in the medium supplemented with 4 mg/ml L- tryptophan in compare to control. The optimum pH level of the culture medium was recorded as 7 under shaken conditions at 150 rpm with 5 days incubation. The influence of IAA produced by the UPMP3 on oil palm seedling growth was carried out in the pot experiment. The germinated oil palm seedlings were treated with the extract of bacterial strain and observed a positive effect on seedling growth in respect to average root and leaf number, root, shoot, and leaf length compare to the synthetic IAA and the control.

In semiarid regions, deficit and unpredictable precipitation results in yield losses. Uniconazole is a plant growth regulator and its application is beneficial in water saving agriculture and improves maize production in semiarid regions. In order to determine the effects of uniconazole application on seed filling and hormonal changes of maize, a field study was conducted in the summer of 2015 and 2016. Seeds were soaked in uniconazole at concentration of 0 (SCK), 25 (S25), 50 (S50), and 75 (S75) mgkg-1, while in the second experiment, uniconazole was applied to the foliage at concentration of 0 (FCK), 25 (F25), 50 (F50), and 75 (F75) mgL-1 at the eight-leaf. Uniconazole application significantly improves the seed filling rates by regulating the endogenous hormones contents. Uniconazole seed soaking treatments improved significantly the seed filling rate of superior, middle, and inferior seeds compared with foliar application treatments. Uniconazole improved significantly the zeatin (Z) + zeatin riboside (ZR) and abscisic acid (ABA) contents while reducing the gibberellic acid (GA) content in the seeds during the process of seed filling. The Z + ZR and ABA contents were significantly positively correlated while the GA content was negatively correlated with maximum seed weight, maximum seed filling rates, and mean seed filling rates. Treatments S25 and F25 significantly improved the above dry matter accumulation plant-1, seed filling rates, ABA, Z + ZR contents, characters of ear, and grain yield while reduced the GA content. It is concluded from our results that the uniconazole application at concentration of 25mgkg-1 as seed soaking or 25mgL-1 foliar applied at the eight-leaf stage is beneficial to improve the seed filling rates and grain yield of maize in semiarid regions.

The contents of eight phytohormones and the expression levels of genes encoding enzymes related to abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and deactivation/degradation and transcription factors (TFs) related to fruit ripening were studied in the non-climacteric strawberry fruit (Fragaria × ananassa Duch., cv. ‘Seolhyang’) at six developmental stages. The hormones tested were ABA, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid 4 (GA4), jasmonic acid (JA), methyljasmonate (MJ), jasmonoyl isoleucine (JA-Ile), salicylic acid (SA), and ethylene (ET). The developmental and ripening stages studied were small green (S1, 11 days post-anthesis, DPA), green (S2, 20 DPA), breaker (S3, 24 DPA), pink (S4, 27 DPA), red (S5, 31 DPA), and fully red (S6, 40 DPA). IAA and GA4 contents were highest at S1 and gradually decreased after this stage. ABA content was low at S1–S3 and then increased rapidly until peaking at S6. By contrast, MJ content showed no significant changes over time, while SA content gradually increased. JA, JA-Ile, and ET contents were either insufficient for quantification or undetectable. Expression of the ABA biosynthesis genes FaNCED1 and FaABA2 increased during fruit ripening, whereas expression of the ABA deactivation/degradation genes FaUGT75C1 and FaCYP707A1 was high early in development, when ABA content was low, and then decreased. Among four ripening-related TF genes, FaMYB1, FaMYB5, FaMYB10, and FaASR, only the expression of FaMYB10 seemed to be closely related to strawberry fruit ripening. Our study supports the idea that ABA and FaMYB10 appear to be the key hormone and TF regulating strawberry ripening.

Endogenous Hormone Concentration in Developing Tuberous Roots of Different Sweet Potato Genotypes

Bacillus species synthesize antifungal lipopeptides (LPs) making them a sustainable and eco-friendly management option to combat Fusarium wilt of chickpea. In this study, 18 endophytic Bacillus strains were assessed for their antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris (FOC) associated with Fusarium wilt of chickpea. Among them, 13 strains produced significant inhibition zones in a direct antifungal assay while five strains failed to produce the inhibition of FOC. Bacillus thuringiensis CHGP12 exhibited the highest inhibition 3.45 cm of FOC. The LPs extracted from CHGP12 showed significant inhibition of the pathogen. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis confirmed that CHGP12 possessed the ability to produce fengycin, surfactin, iturin, bacillaene, bacillibactin, plantazolicin, and bacilysin. In an in vitro qualitative assay CHGP12 exhibited the ability to produce lipase, amylase, cellulase, protease, siderophores, and indole 3-acetic acid (IAA). IAA and gibberellic acid (GA) were quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with 370 and 770 ng mL-1 concentrations of IAA and GA respectively. Furthermore, the disease severity showed a 40% decrease over control in CHGP12 treated plants compared to the control in a glasshouse experiment. Moreover, CHGP12 also exhibited a significant increase in total biomass of the plants namely, root and shoot growth parameters, stomatal conductance, and photosynthesis rate. In conclusion, our findings suggest that B. thuringiensis CHGP12 is a promising strain with high antagonistic and growth-promoting potential against Fusarium wilt of chickpea. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Fruiting of cotton IV. Nitrogen, abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, and cutout

Changes in plant hormones and metabolites in long-shoot stems of interior Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco) during cone induction by gibberellic acid (GA) treatment were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode. A mixture of GA(4) and GA(7), including small amounts of GA(3) and GA(1), was stem-injected into each tree in amounts of 0, 4, 40 or 400 mg. One week after injection, concentrations of GA(4), GA(7) and GA(3) were elevated in all GA-treated samples. The ratio of GA(4) to GA(7) decreased significantly at Week 3. Absolute concentrations of all gibberellins declined sharply at Week 3 after GA application. After 5 weeks, GA(1) and GA(4) were below detection limits in all samples, and GA(7) and GA(3) were found only in the samples from trees treated with 40 or 400 mg of GA. Endogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations increased following GA injection, and peaked at Week 2 or Week 3 in the trees treated with 40 or 400 mg GA, respectively. Injection of 400 mg of GA brought about a twofold increase in IAA concentration compared with control values. Injection of 40 and 400 mg of GA caused significant increases in stem dry mass in Week 5. Seed orchard data revealed that injection of either 40 or 400 mg GA enhanced female cone formation, whereas male cone formation was enhanced only by 400 mg GA. Slight decreases in concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) and isopentenyl adenosine were observed after GA application. No significant changes were detected in the concentrations of ABA metabolites except for a slight decrease in the concentration of 7'-hydroxy ABA. The concentration of ABA declined during the growing season and the concentration of ABA glucose ester increased correspondingly.

Heat stress is a major limiting factor for growth of cool-season perennial grass species, and mechanisms of heat tolerance have not been well understood. This study was designed to investigate antioxidant enzyme and hormone metabolism responses to heat stress in two kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.) cultivars contrasting in heat tolerance. The plants were subjected to 20/20 °C [day/night (control)] or 38/30 °C [day/night (heat stress)] for 28 days in growth chambers. Heat stress increased leaf electrolyte leakage (EL) and malondialdehyde (MDA) with heat-tolerant cultivar EverGlade exhibiting lower levels of EL and MDA relative to heat-sensitive cultivar Kenblue under heat stress. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity increased and then declined during 28 days of heat stress. Peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity declined and then increased during heat stress. ‘EverGlade’ had greater activities of SOD, CAT, POD, and APX relative to ‘Kenblue’ under heat stress. In addition, ‘EverGlade’ had two additional SOD isozymes and three additional POD isozymes relative to ‘Kenblue’ under heat stress. Leaf abscisic acid (ABA) increased in response to heat stress. Leaf indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) increased and then declined during heat stress. ‘OverGlade’ had higher ABA and IAA content relative to ‘Kenblue’. At the end of heat stress, leaf IAA and ABA content were 27.8% and 73% higher in ‘EverGlade’ relative to ‘Kenblue’, respectively. The results indicated that antioxidant enzymes and the hormones (ABA and IAA) were associated with kentucky bluegrass heat tolerance. Selection and use of cultivars with higher IAA and ABA content and greater antioxidant enzyme activities may improve kentucky bluegrass growth and quality under heat stress.

Ultrasonic seed (US) treatment could alter seed germination mechanism, however, US induced alterations in morph-physiological attributes and yield of fragrant rice were rarely reported. In the present study, the seeds of three fragrant rice cultivars viz., Xiangyaxiangzhan, Meixiangzhan 2, Ruanhuayou 6100 and one non-fragrant rice viz., Wufengyou 615 were exposed to ultrasonic waves at 20–40 kHz for 1.5 min (T) whereas the seeds without exposure were taken as control (CK). Results showed that US treatment caused minor cracks on seed surface while improved seed germination rate (1.79 %-11.09 %) and 3-indoleacetic acid (IAA) (3.36 %-46.91 %). Furthermore, peroxidase (POD) activity and methionine sulfoxide reductase activity was increased by 29.15 %-74.13 % and 11.26 %-20.87 %, respectively; however, methionine sulfoxide reductase related protein repairing gene MSRA4 was down-regulated by 17.93 % −41.04 % under T, compared to CK. Besides, US treatment also improved soluble protein in flag leaf (0.92 %-40.79 %), photosynthesis (3.37 %-16.46 %), biomass (5.17 %-31.87 %), as well as 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline content (4.77 %-15.48 %) in rice grains. In addition, multivariate analysis showed that the dry weight at the maturity stage were significantly related to the POD, glutathione reductase (GR) activity, IAA, and abscisic acid (ABA) content while germination rate was positively related to the GR activity, ABA content, and yield, but which were negatively related to the IAA and gibberellic acid content.