Glycinebetaine increases chilling tolerance and reduces chilling‐induced lipid peroxidation in Zea mays L.

Abstract

Chilling tolerance was increased in suspension‐cultured cells and seedlings of maize (Zea mays L. cv ‘Black Mexican Sweet’) grown in media containing glycinebetaine (GB). A triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) reduction test indicated that after a 7 d chilling period at 4 °C, cells treated with 1 mm GB at 26 °C for 1 d had a survival rate (30%) that was twice as high as that of untreated controls. The addition of 2·5 m M GB to the culture medium resulted in maximum chilling tolerance (40%). The results of a cell regrowth assay were consistent with viability determined by the TTC method. In suspension‐cultured cells supplemented with various concentrations of GB, accumulation of GB in the cells was proportional to the GB concentration in the medium and was saturated at a concentration of 240 μmol (g DW)−1. The degree of increased chilling tolerance was positively correlated with the level of GB accumulated in the cells. The increased chilling tolerance was time‐dependent; i.e. it was first observed 3 h after treatment and reached a plateau after 14 h. Feeding seedlings with 2·5 m M GB through the roots also improved their chilling tolerance, as evidenced by the prevention of chlorosis after chilling for 3 d at 4 °C/2 °C. Lipid peroxidation, as expressed by the production of malondialdehyde, was significantly reduced in GB‐treated cells compared with the untreated controls during chilling. These results suggest that increased chilling tolerance may be due, in part, to the reduction of lipid peroxidation of the cell membranes in the presence of GB.

Physiological and biochemical effect of 24-epibrassinoslide on cold tolerance in maize seedlings

“…However, the maximum glycine betaine content was recorded from the treatment with 1.0 μM concentration of EBR under both conditions. In maize, chilling tolerance has been associated with buildup of glycine betaine (Chen et al 2000). The correlation coefficient analysis between cold stress and morpho-physiological and biochemical attributes (Table 5) revealed that growth characters has positive correlation with morpho-physiological and biochemical traits.…”

Glycinebetaine improves salt tolerance in vinal (Prosopis ruscifolia Griesbach) seedlings

“…Membranes, and their integral and associated components used for the uptake and distribution of ions and solutes, are considered to be determinants for developing stress-resistant crops. Low concentrations of glycinebetaine can improve salt and cold stress tolerance, possibly by protecting photosynthetic protein complexes (Holmström et al, 2000) and by reducing the lipid peroxidation of cell membranes (Chen et al, 2000).…”

Plant drought stress: effects, mechanisms and management

“…Exogenously applied glycinebetaine improves the growth and production of some plants under stress (Naidu et al, 1998;Chen et al, 2000;Hussain et al, 2008). In many crop plants the natural accumulation of glycinebetaine is lower than sufficient to ameliorate the adverse effects of dehydration caused by various environmental stresses (Subbarao et al, 2000).…”