Alterations in fatty acid composition due to cold exposure at the vegetative stage in rice

Abstract

Rice is a tropical plant, so cold temperature may be detrimental to its development, depending on the genotype and environmental conditions. Degree of lipid unsaturation has been related to cold tolerance due to its effect on membrane stability. So, the aim of this study was to characterize the fatty acid composition and its alterations due to cold temperature in rice genotypes of diversified origin. Forty-four rice genotypes at the V 4 stage were submitted to two temperature conditions: 10°C and 28°C for two days and after this they had their leaves collected for lipid extraction and quantification. Control plants were allowed to regrow until presenting four leaves fully expanded and then were subjected to 10°C for ten days for cold tolerance evaluation. Plant survival was measured seven days after recovery at 28°C and the genotypes were grouped in three cold tolerance classes: tolerant, intermediate and sensitive. These classes differed for total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids only under the cold temperature treatment. Further analysis of the more abundant fatty acids: linoleic, linolenic and palmitic, showed that the two last ones differed between tolerant and sensitive genotypes. Linolenic acid increased after cold exposure in cold tolerant genotypes while palmitic acid decreased, and an opposite behavior was found in the cold sensitive genotypes. These evidences indicate that these fatty acids are potential molecular markers useful for breeding programs as well as for future basic studies on cold tolerance in rice.

The ameliorating effects of polyamine supplement on physiological and biochemical parameters of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni under cold stress

“…In contrast, in cold tolerant genotypes, unsaturated fatty acids showed a rise, and saturated acids undergone a reduction. (Cruz et al, 2010). This may interpret the role of lipid unsaturation in the maintenance of cell membrane stability and then cold tolerance.…”

Genome-wide gene expression profiling of introgressed indica rice alleles associated with seedling cold tolerance improvement in a japonica rice background

“…Similarly, OsFAD8 has a functional role in maintaining levels of trienoic fatty acids and stress tolerance at low temperatures in rice [5]. In one study [6], linolenic acid levels increased and palmitic acid levels decreased in cold tolerant rice genotypes exposed to chilling; the opposite behavior was observed in cold sensitive genotypes. Transcriptional regulation is the core component of the complex genetic network associated with plant responses to cold.…”

Avoiding damage and achieving cold tolerance in rice plants

“…Differences in the content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were observed among plants at the vegetative stage from tolerant and sensitive genotypes only after cold exposure (da Cruz et al. ). The same authors found that among the most abundant types of fatty acids, levels of linolenic acid increased in the tolerant genotypes and of palmitic acid decreased in these same genotypes, confirming an important role for the unsaturated fatty acids in maintaining membrane stability during cold stress.…”