Cell wall remodeling under salt stress: Insights into changes in polysaccharides, feruloylation, lignification, and phenolic metabolism in maize

Abstract

Although cell wall polymers play important roles in the tolerance of plants to abiotic stress, the effects of salinity on cell wall composition and metabolism in grasses remain largely unexplored. Here, we conducted an in-depth study of changes in cell wall composition and phenolic metabolism induced upon salinity in maize seedlings and plants. Cell wall characterization revealed that salt stress modulated the deposition of cellulose, matrix polysaccharides and lignin in seedling roots, plant roots and stems. The extraction and analysis of arabinoxylans by size-exclusion chromatography, 2D-NMR spectroscopy and carbohydrate gel electrophoresis showed a reduction of arabinoxylan content in salt-stressed roots. Saponification and mild acid hydrolysis revealed that salinity also reduced the feruloylation of arabinoxylans in roots of seedlings and plants. Determination of lignin content and composition by nitrobenzene oxidation and 2D-NMR confirmed the increased incorporation of syringyl units in lignin of maize roots. Salt stress also induced the expression of genes and the activity of enzymes enrolled in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The UHPLC-MS-based metabolite profiling confirmed the modulation of phenolic profiling by salinity and the accumulation of ferulate and its derivatives 3-and 4-O-feruloyl

Transgenerational Effects of Salt Stress Imposed to Rapeseed (Brassica napus var. oleifera Del.) Plants Involve Greater Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity in the Edible Sprouts Obtained from Offspring Seeds

“…Sinapic acid offers efficient potential to manage protection against salt-induced reactive oxygen species, as recently demonstrated for the mangrove species Avicenia marina [ 27 ]. Moreover, p -coumaric acid produced by phenylpropanoid pathway may be activated by Coenzyme A to produce monolignols acting as a precursor for lignin synthesis and plays a crucial role in cell wall remodelling under salt stress, allowing one to regulate cell wall extensibility and thus cell elongation, despite turgor modifications in stressed plants [ 28 ]. Chlorogenic acid has been found to increase in leaves of honeysuckle grown in saline soil as a mechanism of acclimation to salt stress [ 29 ].…”

Unravelling the Strategies for Cell wall Biosynthesis used by Salt-Tolerant Proso Millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) under Salt Stress: From Root Structure to Molecular Mechanism

“…ST 47 shows stronger resistance to salt toxicity via enhancing cell wall biosynthesis Maintaining cell wall integrity is crucial for plant growth and salt tolerance [52]. Since Ca 2+ is involved in secondary cell wall biosynthesis [13], Na + accumulated in the soil-root boundary replaces Ca 2+ and directly binds to the root cell wall, thus changing the cell wall components and their chemical properties [53]. In this study, the concentration of Ca 2+ in both proso millet cultivars declined signi cantly following exposure to salt stress (0.51-fold; 0.66-fold; Fig.…”

The morphological and physiological basis of delayed pollination overcoming pre‐fertilization cross‐incompatibility in Nicotiana

“…The components and mechanical features of the cell wall play a key role in controlling the size, shape and cohesion of plant cells (Minic & Jouanin, 2006; Mollet et al 2013; Bacete et al 2020; Oliveira et al 2020). The degradation of cell wall polysaccharides and proteins might increase relaxation of the TTS cell walls or weaken adhesion between TTS cells, leading to the separation of TTS cells and enlargement of the ECM (Jiang et al, 2005; ZúÑiga‐Sánchez & Buen, 2012; Salazar‐Iribe et al, 2016; Amos & Mohnen, 2019; Anderson & Kieber 2020).…”