Effects of salinity on the growth, physiology and relevant gene expression of an annual halophyte grown from heteromorphic seeds

Abstract

Seed heteromorphism provides plants with alternative strategies for survival in unfavourable environments, which may not only increase the chances of successful germination, but may also have an impact on characters of the descendants. However, Cao et al. found that the different properties of the dimorphic seeds of Suaeda aralocaspica (i.e. black and brown) had no effects on their descendants' growth and physiological responses to salinity: all descendants required salinity for optimal growth and adaptation to their natural habitat.

Adaptation of Halophytes to Different Habitats

“…A large proportion of genes changed significantly at 3 h in brown seed, as opposed to 8 h in black, Adaptation of Halophytes to Different Habitats DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.87056 after imbibition; it was observed transcriptional changes greater in brown than black seed. However, the different characteristics shown in germination between dimorphic seeds of S. aralocaspica are not transferred to the descendants and soon disappear in later seedlings stages, presenting no significant difference in growth, and physiological response, in the descendants with or without salinity [23,24].…”

Genomics: A Hallmark to Monitor Molecular and Biochemical Processes Leading Toward a Better Perceptive of Seed Aging and ex-situ Conservation

“…Therefore, it can be deduced that these events are followed by an increase in the expression of genes that encode proteins responsible for the replication and translation of mitochondrial DNA. Moreover, the upregulation of genes for nucleotide synthesis in cytosol and nucleotide transportation into mitochondria has also been reported, and transcriptome analysis reveals a rise in transcript levels of genes that govern different metabolic and bio-energetic processes of mitochondria (Cao et al, 2015). Mass spectrometry and Western blot analysis of protein levels indicate a positive correlation between the proteome and transcription factors (Law et al, 2012).…”

“…During the storage of dry seed, non-enzymatic mechanisms, such as lipid peroxidation, are thought to be responsible for the accumulation of ROS, owing to the absence of free water, whereas enzymatic mechanisms are responsible for ROS production during imbibition. However, in seeds with dynamic metabolic activities, the mitochondrial respiratory chain is thought to be the main source of ROS generation (Bailly, 2004), and the deposition of ROS can also be accelerated by alterations in mitochondria (Wei and Lee, 2002;Cash et al, 2007;Li et al, 2015).…”

The Developmental Enhancement of a C4 System With Non-Typical C4 Physiological Characteristics in Salsola ferganica (Kranz Anatomy), an Annual Desert Halophyte

“…The homogenate was centrifuged at 1,800 g for 15-20 min at 4°C and the supernatant was immediately used. The following steps were performed according to protocols described by Cao's reaction mixture (1.0 ml) consisted of 70 mM MgSO 4 •7H 2 O (143 ml), 70 mM NaHCO 3 (143 ml), 14 mM phosphoenolpyruvic acid (286 ml), 5 mM NADH (429 ml) with only modification by addition of 10 U malate dehydrogenase and 20 ml crude enzyme to initiate reactions (Cao et al, 2015). For RUBPC assays, young fresh leaves (0.1 g) from the upper part of the plant were ground on ice in extraction buffer (1.5 ml) containing 40 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 10 mM MgCl 2 •6H 2 O, 0.25 mM EDTA, and 5 mM glutathione, followed by centrifugation as mentioned above, the supernatant was then immediately used for assay.…”

“…For RUBPC assays, young fresh leaves (0.1 g) from the upper part of the plant were ground on ice in extraction buffer (1.5 ml) containing 40 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.6), 10 mM MgCl 2 •6H 2 O, 0.25 mM EDTA, and 5 mM glutathione, followed by centrifugation as mentioned above, the supernatant was then immediately used for assay. The reaction mixture (1.0 ml) consisted of 0.2 mM NaHCO 3 (67 ml), reaction buffer (467 ml) (100 mM Tris-HCl [pH 7.8], 12 mM MgCl 2 •6H 2 O, 0.4 mM EDTA), crude enzyme extract (133 ml), 5 mM NADH (67 ml), 50 mM ATP (67 ml), 50 mM DL-dithiothreitol (67 ml), distilled water (33 ml), 160 U•ml -1 phosphoglycerate kinase (33 ml), 160 U•ml -1 phosphoglyceraldehyde dehydrogenase (33 ml), and 25 mM RuBP (33 ml) (Cao et al, 2015). The absorbance of both reaction mixtures was recorded on a UV-3010 spectrophotometer (Shimadzu, Japan) for 3 min at 340 nm.…”