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Aquaporin expression in response to different water stress intensities and recovery in Richter-110 (Vitis sp.): relationship with ecophysiological status

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Abstract

Aquaporins seem essential for the regulation of plant water status and expenses. Richter-110 is a Vitis hybrid (Vitis berlandieri × rupestris) reputed to be strongly drought-tolerant. Three irrigation treatments were established in Richter-110 plants growing outdoors defined by the resulting maximum stomatal conductance (g s), and ensuring water stress situations not severe enough as to stop photosynthesis and growth: well-watered plants (g s about 250 mmol H2O m−2 s−1), moderate water stress (g s about 150 mmol H2O m−2 s−1) and severe water stress (g s about 50 mmol H2O m−2 s−1). Plants under water stress were kept at constant water availability for 7 days to check for possible acclimation. Finally, plants were re-watered, and allowed to recover, for 3 days. Stomatal conductance, leaf water potential, xylem abscisic acid (ABA) content and root and stem hydraulic conductivity were determined. The relative amounts of expression of mRNA encoding seven putative aquaporins were determined in roots and leaves by RT-PCR. The decrease in stomatal conductance with moderate and severe water stress was associated with increasing ABA contents, but not with the leaf water potential and hydraulic conductivities, which remained unchanged during the entire experiment. Aquaporin gene expression varied depending on which aquaporin, water stress level and the plant organ. We suggest that aquaporin expression was responsive to water stress as part of the homeostasis, which resulted in constant leaf water potential and hydraulic conductivity.

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Abbreviations

ABA:

Abscisic acid

AQP:

Aquaporin

MIP:

Major intrinsic protein

g s :

Stomatal conductance

PIP:

Plasma membrane intrinsic protein

PLC:

Percentage of loss conductivity

RWC:

Leaf relative water content

TIP:

Tonoplast intrinsic protein

Ψ:

Leaf water potential

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Acknowledgments

This study was financed by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Research—projects BFU2005-03102/BFI “Effects of drought on photosynthesis and respiration: acclimation and recovery” and AGL2005-06927-CO2-01/AGR “Optimización del uso del agua en la vid: Regulación y control fisiológico y agronómico y efectos en la calidad del fruto”. Dr. Felicidad De Herralde (IRTA, Spain), Drs A Mas and I Baiges (Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain) and Dr Josefina Bota (Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain) are acknowledged for help in the establishment of methodologies. We are indebted to Dr JM Martínez-Zapater (CNB-CSIC, Spain) for his helpful advices on molecular biology. Drs C Lovisolo (University of Torino, Italy) and AJ Keys (Rothamsted Research, UK) are also acknowledged for stimulating discussion on previous versions of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grup de Recerca en Biologia de les Plantes en Condicions Mediterrànies, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    Jeroni Galmés, Alícia Pou, Magdalena Tomàs, Hipólito Medrano & Jaume Flexas

  2. Departament d’Horticultura Ambiental, IRTA, Carretera de Cabrils Km 2, 08348, Cabrils, Spain

    Maria Mar Alsina

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  1. Jeroni Galmés
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  2. Alícia Pou
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  3. Maria Mar Alsina
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  6. Jaume Flexas
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Correspondence to Jeroni Galmés.

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Galmés, J., Pou, A., Alsina, M.M. et al. Aquaporin expression in response to different water stress intensities and recovery in Richter-110 (Vitis sp.): relationship with ecophysiological status. Planta 226, 671–681 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-007-0515-1

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