Hydrogen Sulfide Alleviates Waterlogging-Induced Damage in Peach Seedlings via Enhancing Antioxidative System and Inhibiting Ethylene Synthesis

Abstract

Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) is a shallow root fruit tree with poor waterlogging tolerance. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is a signal molecule which regulates the adaptation of plants to adverse environments. Nevertheless, the effects of exogenous applications of H 2 S in fruit tree species especially in peach trees under waterlogging stress have been scarcely researched. Thus, the goal of this research was to investigate the alleviating effect of exogenous H 2 S on peach seedlings under waterlogging stress. In the present study, we found that the effect of exogenous H 2 S depended on the concentration and 0.2 mM sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) showed the best remission effect on peach seedlings under waterlogging stress. Waterlogging significantly reduced the stomatal opening, net photosynthetic rate, and Fv/Fm of peach seedlings. The results of histochemical staining and physiological and biochemical tests showed that waterlogging stress increased the number of cell deaths and amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in leaves, increased the number of root cell deaths, significantly increased the electrolyte permeability, O 2. − production rate, H 2 O 2 content and ethylene synthesis rate of roots, and significantly reduced root activity. With prolonged stress, antioxidative enzyme activity increased initially and then decreased. Under waterlogging stress, application of 0.2 mM NaHS increased the number of stomatal openings, improved the chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic capacity of peach seedlings. Exogenous H 2 S enhanced antioxidative system and significantly alleviate cell death of roots and leaves of peach seedlings caused by waterlogging stress through reducing ROS accumulation in roots and leaves. H 2 S can improve the activity and proline content of roots, reduce oxidative damage, alleviated lipid peroxidation, and inhibit ethylene synthesis. The H 2 S scavenger hypotaurine partially eliminated the effect of exogenous H 2 S on alleviating waterlogging stress of peach seedlings. Collectively, our results provide an insight into the protective role of H 2 S in waterlogging-stressed peach seedlings and suggest H 2 S as a potential candidate in reducing waterlogging-induced damage in peach seedlings.

Physiological and Expressional Regulation on Photosynthesis, Starch and Sucrose Metabolism Response to Waterlogging Stress in Peanut

“…Such is the case in southern China, a region characterized by a subtropical monsoon climate with high temperature and humidity and frequent rainfall in May and June every year (Chan and Zhou, 2005;Zhou et al, 2013), during which peanut plants are in the middle or late growth stages of the spring cropping season. Excessive rainfall leads to soil flooding (Ye et al, 2018), which affects root respiration (Gupta et al, 2009;Zabalza et al, 2009), nutrient absorption (Gupta et al, 2009;Zabalza et al, 2009), plant morphology (Malik et al, 2002), photosynthesis (Ploschuk et al, 2018;Liu et al, 2020), and energy metabolism and the antioxidant system (Savchenko et al, 2019;Xiao et al, 2020), and ultimately causes a decline in pod yield (Ding et al, 2020;Tian et al, 2020). Besides, with global warming, waterlogging will occur more frequently and undoubtedly have an impact on global food security (Singh, 2015;Yamauchi et al, 2018).…”

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) signaling in plant development and stress responses

“…One possibly way is to increase the endogenous H 2 S content by enhancing the activities of H 2 S-related enzymes (Cheng et al 2013 ; Peng et al 2016 ). Exogenous application of low H 2 S in Pisum sativum and peach can reverse ROS accumulation, cell deaths, electrolyte permeability, rapid synthesis of ethylene and significant reduction of root activity that induced by waterlogging stress (Cheng et al 2013 ; Xiao et al 2020 ). In addition, there is also a similar relationship between AsA-GSH cycle and H 2 S (Shan et al 2020 ).…”

Programmed Cell Death in Stigmatic Papilla Cells Is Associated With Senescence-Induced Self-Incompatibility Breakdown in Chinese Cabbage and Radish

“…In a broader context, ethylene and PCD are often found involved in biotic or abiotic stresses ( Hinz et al, 2010 ; Huysmans et al, 2017 ; Nascimento et al, 2018 ; Xiao et al, 2020 ; Noman et al, 2020 ). These environmental stresses such as high salinity, low light intensity, drought, pathogen attack, and nutrient deficiency promote premature senescence ( Balazadeh et al, 2010 ; Zhao et al, 2016 ; Gao et al, 2018 ; Suzuki and Katano, 2018 ; Aacute et al, 2020 ; Hu et al, 2020 ; Tian et al, 2020 ).…”