Effects Of Root Hypoxia Research Articles

Ethylene enhances root water transport and aquaporin expression in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) exposed to root hypoxia

BackgroundRoot hypoxia has detrimental effects on physiological processes and growth in most plants. The effects of hypoxia can be partly alleviated by ethylene. However, the tolerance mechanisms contributing to the ethylene-mediated hypoxia tolerance in plants remain poorly understood.ResultsIn this study, we examined the effects of root hypoxia and exogenous ethylene treatments on leaf gas exchange, root hydraulic conductance, and the expression levels of several aquaporins of the plasma membrane intrinsic protein group (PIP) in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) seedlings. Ethylene enhanced net photosynthetic rates, transpiration rates, and root hydraulic conductance in hypoxic plants. Of the two subgroups of PIPs (PIP1 and PIP2), the protein abundance of PIP2s and the transcript abundance of PIP2;4 and PIP2;5 were higher in ethylene-treated trembling aspen roots compared with non-treated roots under hypoxia. The increases in the expression levels of these aquaporins could potentially facilitate root water transport. The enhanced root water transport by ethylene was likely responsible for the increase in leaf gas exchange of the hypoxic plants.ConclusionsExogenous ethylene enhanced root water transport and the expression levels of PIP2;4 and PIP2;5 in hypoxic roots of trembling aspen. The results suggest that ethylene facilitates the aquaporin-mediated water transport in plants exposed to root hypoxia.

Keep Calm and Survive: Adaptation Strategies to Energy Crisis in Fruit Trees under Root Hypoxia.

Plants are permanently facing challenges imposed by the environment which, in the context of the current scenario of global climate change, implies a constant process of adaptation to survive and even, in the case of crops, at least maintain yield. O2 deficiency at the rhizosphere level, i.e., root hypoxia, is one of the factors with the greatest impact at whole-plant level. At cellular level, this O2 deficiency provokes a disturbance in the energy metabolism which has notable consequences on the yield of plant crops. In this sense, although several physiological studies describe processes involved in plant adaptation to root hypoxia in woody fruit trees, with emphasis on the negative impacts on photosynthetic rate, there are very few studies that include -omics strategies for specifically understanding these processes in the roots of such species. Through a de novo assembly approach, a comparative transcriptome study of waterlogged Prunus spp. genotypes contrasting in their tolerance to root hypoxia was revisited in order to gain a deeper insight into the reconfiguration of pivotal pathways involved in energy metabolism. This re-analysis describes the classically altered pathways seen in the roots of woody fruit trees under hypoxia, but also routes that link them to pathways involved with nitrogen assimilation and the maintenance of cytoplasmic pH and glycolytic flow. In addition, the effects of root hypoxia on the transcription of genes related to the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system, responsible for providing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to the cell, are discussed in terms of their roles in the energy balance, reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and aerenchyma formation. This review compiles key findings that help to explain the trait of tolerance to root hypoxia in woody fruit species, giving special attention to their strategies for managing the energy crisis. Finally, research challenges addressing less-explored topics in recovery and stress memory in woody fruit trees are pointed out.

The use of metabolome analysis to identify the cause of an unexplained disease of Japanese gentians (Gentiana triflora)

Gentian spotted bleaching disease (GSBD), a novel disease of unknown etiology, affects Gentiana triflora plants that are cultivated as ornamental flowers in Japan. This disease leads to the production of necrotic leaf spots, a delay in flowering, and has thus become a serious problem for gentian production. The objective of this study was to identify the cause of GSBD in G. triflora by analyzing differences between healthy and GSBD-affected leaves. Selected metabolite concentrations in healthy and GSBD-affected leaves were quantified using capillary electrophoresis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and statistically significant differences in metabolite concentrations were assessed. GSBD-affected metabolic pathways were identified followed by examination of pathway-related gene expression and enzyme activities. Furthermore, the effects of root hypoxia on metabolite concentrations and gene expression were investigated. We found that concentrations of Calvin cycle intermediates and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) activity were significantly lower in GSBD-affected leaves, whereas sucrose cleavage and Ala accumulation were enhanced. Since these metabolic changes are frequently observed in plants exposed to hypoxia, the expression of hypoxia-responsive genes was investigated. Expression levels of hypoxia-responsive genes were higher in GSBD-affected plants than in the controls. Furthermore, root hypoxia induced similar symptoms and metabolic changes as those observed in GSBD-affected plants. Our results indicate that GSBD was likely induced by root hypoxia and that metabolome analysis is an effective tool for identifying the cause of plant disease with unknown etiologies.

Prolonged root hypoxia effects on enzymes involved in nitrogen assimilation pathway in tomato plants

In order to investigate the effects of root hypoxia (1-2 % oxygen) on the nitrogen (N) metabolism of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Micro-Tom), a range of N compounds and N-assimilating enzymes were performed on roots and leaves of plants submitted to root hypoxia at the second leaf stage for three weeks. Obtained results showed that root hypoxia led to a significant decrease in dry weight (DW) production and nitrate content in roots and leaves. Conversely, shoot to root DW ratio and nitrite content were significantly increased. Contrary to that in leaves, glutamine synthetase activity was significantly enhanced in roots. The activities of nitrate and nitrite reductase were enhanced in roots as well as leaves. The higher increase in the NH4+ content and in the protease activities in roots and leaves of hypoxically treated plants coincide with a greater decrease in soluble protein contents. Taken together, these results suggest that root hypoxia leaded to higher protein degradation. The hypoxia-induced increase in the aminating glutamate dehydrogenase activity may be considered as an alternative N assimilation pathway involved in detoxifying the NH4+, accumulated under hypoxic conditions. With respect to hypoxic stress, the distinct sensitivity of the enzymes involved in N assimilation is discussed.

Contrasted Responses to Root Hypoxia in Tomato Fruit at Two Stages of Development

The biochemical consequences of root hypoxia have been documented in many sink organs, but not extensively in fruit. Therefore, in the present study, the response to root hypoxia in tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was investigated at two developmental stages, during the cell division and the cell expansion phases. Our results showed that in dividing fruit, root hypoxia caused an exhaustion of carbon reserves and proteins. However, ammonium and major amino acids (glutamine, asparagine and γ–aminobutyric acid (GABA)) significantly accumulated. In expanding fruit, root hypoxia had no effect on soluble sugar, protein and glutamine contents, whereas starch content was significantly decreased, and asparagine and GABA contents slightly increased. Metabolite contents were well correlated with activities of the corresponding metabolising enzymes. Contrary to nitrogen metabolising enzymes (glutamine synthetase, asparagine synthetase and glutamate decraboxylase), the activities of enzymes involved in sugar metabolism (invertase, sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase and ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase) were significantly reduced by root hypoxia, in diving fruit. In expanding fruit, only a slight decrease in ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase and an increase in asparagine synthetase and glutamate decarboxylase activities were observed. Taken together, the present data revealed that the effects of root hypoxia are more pronounced in the youngest fruits as it is probably controlled by the relative sink strength of the fruit and by the global disturbance in plant functioning.

Root Hypoxia-lnduced Changes in the Pattern of Translatable mRNAs In Poplar Leaves

Shoot responses to root stress may be modulated by hormones transported from root tissues. In this study, the pattern of in vitro translatable mRNAs from leaves on plants with oxygen-deprived (hypoxic) roots was used as a molecular phenotype to test for the action and specificity of putative root-to-shoot signal molecules. Root hypoxia caused a decrease in the abundance of a group of leaf mRNAs which translated to give low molecular weight (LMW) proteins (12 to 28 kDa). Root excision induced a similar reduction in a subset of the same LMW leaf mRNAs. This suggests that the effects of root hypoxia on leaves are physiologically related to the effects of root excision. Feeding abscisic acid to leaves did not mimic the effects of root aeration or hypoxia

Effects of root hypoxia and a low P supply on relative growth, carbon dioxide exchange rates and carbon partitioning in Pinus serotina seedlings

Effects of root hypoxia and a low P supply on relative growth, carbon dioxide exchange rates and carbon partitioning in Pinus serotina seedlings

Effects of root hypoxia and a low P supply on relative growth, carbon dioxide exchange rates and carbon partitioning in Pinus serotina seedlings

The present study was conducted to determine how 10 weeks of root hypoxia and a low P supply altered relative growth, and carbon acquisition and partitioning in a moderately flood tolerant pine. Pond pine (Pinus serotina Michx.) seedlings were grown in continuously flowing solution culture at 5 or 100 μM P, under aerobic or hypoxic solution conditions. Staggered harvests were used to ascertain changes in biomass allocation and relative growth over time. Carbon dioxide exchange rates (CER) were determined by infrared gas analysis, and needles were analyzed for inorganic P (Pi), sucrose, reducing sugars and starch. Although aeration treatment had no significant effect on shoot dry weight or shoot ontogeny, root dry weight of hypoxic seedlings was significantly lower than that of aerobic seedliings after 8 weeks, regardless of the P treatment. Mean relative growth rates (RGR) of roots in the high P treatment initially decreased under hypoxia, but recovered by the sixth week with the production of adventitious roots. Two weeks of hypoxic growth conditions decreased CER and stomatal conductances of seedlings in the high P treatment by more than 30% relative to their aerobic counterparts. Stomatal closure was not accompanied by a decrease in intracellular CO2, but was accompanied by an increase in starch accumulation. Recoveries of CER, stomatal conductance and carbohydrate metabolism coincided with the recovery of root growth. Low P growth conditions did not significantly affect shoot or root dry weight until the sixth week of treatment. However, differences in seedling RGR, particularly needle RGR, were discernable during the first 2 weeks. Low P treatment effects on CER paralleled changes in needle RGR, with needle RGR more affected than CER. After 6 weeks, CER of aerobically grown seedlings in the low P treatment were only 15% lower than CER of seedlings in the high P treatment, despite a 31% and 75% reduction in needle RGR and Pi concentrations, respectively. Increased starch concentrations of recently expanded needles at this time were probably a result of diminished growth. The inhibitory effect of a low P supply on shoot growth, more specifically on needle expansion and emergence of new fascicular needles, probably limited net carbon fixed per plant more than any direct effect of low P on CER per se.

Root Hypoxia Reduces Leaf Growth

This study examined the potential role of restricted phloem export, or import of substances from the roots in the leaf growth response to root hypoxia. In addition, the effects of root hypoxia on abscisic acid (ABA) and zeatin riboside (ZR) levels were measured and their effects on in vitro growth determined. Imposition of root hypoxia in the dark when transpirational water flux was minimal delayed the reduction in leaf growth until the following light period. Restriction of phloem transport by stem girdling did not eliminate the hypoxia-induced reduction in leaf growth. In vitro growth of leaf discs was inhibited in the presence of xylem sap collected from hypoxic roots, and also by millimolar ABA. Disc growth was promoted by sap from aerated roots and by 0.1 micromolar ZR. The flux of both ABA and ZR was reduced in xylem sap from hypoxic roots. Leaf ABA transiently increased twofold after 24 hours of hypoxia exposure but there were no changes in leaf cytokinin levels.

Cellular Processes Limiting Leaf Growth in Plants under Hypoxic Root Stress

The effects of root hypoxia on leaf growth of a Populus trichocarpa x deltoides hybrid have been assessed. Clonal plants were subjected to hypoxic root conditions in pot culture by flooding and in solution culture by gassing with nitrogen. The rate of leaf expansion declined within 8 h and was suppressed for the duration of the treatment. Final leaf size was reduced by 35% to 60% compared to aerated plants. Final epidermal cell size and number depended both on the developmental stage of the leaf at the onset of stress and on the duration of the treatment. No differences in bulk leaf water potential were measured between the hypoxic and aerated plants. Cell wall extensibility was lower, leaf solute potential was more negative and turgor potential was higher in leaves of hypoxia-treated plants than of aerated plants. These data suggest that leaf growth of hypoxia-stressed plants is limited by cell wall extensibility. The mechanism by which the root stress induces changes in leaf cell wall characteristics is not known.