Abstract
Hydrogen gas (H2), an important gaseous regulator, is involved in various plant growth and development processes. However, there have been few studies on the role of H2 in seed germination. In this study, the role and underlying mechanisms of H2 in enhancing seed germination were investigated in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The results revealed that the germination rate, germ length, germination index, and vitality index of cucumber exhibited a dose-dependent relationship with the increase in concentrations of hydrogen-rich water (HRW, a H2 donor; 0, 1, 10, 25, 50, 75, and 100%), attaining the maximum values with 75% HRW treatment. Treatment with 75% HRW resulted in higher contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, and starch than the control. Additionally, the activity of α-amylase, β-amylase, and total amylase was significantly improved by 75% HRW treatment compared to the control, reaching the maximum values at 36 h. Moreover, the expression levels of starch-related genes AMY and BMY and sugar-related genes SS4 and SS3 were significantly upregulated by 75% HRW treatment during germination, particularly at 36 h. These results suggest that H2 might promote cucumber seed germination by increasing sugar and starch metabolisms.
Highlights
Some small gas molecules, including hydrogen sulfide (H2 S), nitric oxide (NO), and carbon monoxide (CO), are involved in a range of physiological and developmental procedures in plants, such as adventitious rooting, horticultural production freshness, stomatal movement, and endogenous ethylene biosynthesis
Current study found that treatment could increase seed germination rate, germ the current study found that 75% hydrogen-rich water (HRW) treatment could increase seed germination rate, length, germination index, activity index, freshfresh weight, and and dry weight in cucumber (Figgerm length, germination index, activity index, weight, dry weight in cucumber ures 1 and 1 to 100%)
Our results revealed that the germination rate, germ length, germination index, and vitality index in cucumber exhibited a dose-dependent relationship with the increase in concentration of HRW, obtaining the maximum value with 75% HRW treatment
Summary
Some small gas molecules, including hydrogen sulfide (H2 S), nitric oxide (NO), and carbon monoxide (CO), are involved in a range of physiological and developmental procedures in plants, such as adventitious rooting, horticultural production freshness, stomatal movement, and endogenous ethylene biosynthesis. H2 has been found to be a novel antioxidant in animals and plants. H2 can respond to physiological processes as a novel beneficial gaseous molecule [1,2,3]. H2 responds to some abiotic stresses, including salinity [7], heavy metals [8], osmotic stress [9], high light stress [10], and temperature stress [11]. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW, a H2 donor) enhanced the salt tolerance of Arabidopsis by increasing antioxidant system, counteracting ROS overproduction and lipid peroxidation [7]
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