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Auxin acts as a downstream signaling molecule involved in hydrogen sulfide-induced chilling tolerance in cucumber

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Abstract

Main conclusion

This report proves a cross talk between H2S and IAA in cold stress response, which has presented strong evidence that IAA acts as a downstream signal mediating the H2S-induced stress tolerance in cucumber seedlings.

Abstract

We evaluated changes in endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) emission systems, and the interactive effect of exogenous H2S and IAA on chilling tolerance in cucumber seedlings. The results showed that chilling stress increased the activity and relative mRNA expression of l-/d-cysteine desulfhydrase (l-/d-CD), which in turn induced the accumulation of endogenous H2S. Similarly, the endogenous IAA system was triggered by chilling stress. We found that 1.0 mM sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS, an H2S donor) significantly enhanced the activity of flavin monooxygenase (FMO) and relative expression of FMO-like proteins (YUCCA2), which in turn elevated endogenous IAA levels in cucumber seedlings. However, IAA had little effects on activities of l-/d-CD and endogenous H2S levels. H2S-induced IAA production accompanied by increase in chilling tolerance, as shown by the decrease in stress-induced electrolyte leakage (EL) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and increase in gene expressions and enzyme activities of photosynthesis. 1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA, an IAA polar transport inhibitor) declined H2S-induced chilling tolerance and defense genes’ expression. However, scavenging of H2S had a little effect on IAA-induced chilling tolerance. These results suggest that IAA acting as a downstream signaling molecule is involved in the H2S-induced chilling tolerance in cucumber seedlings.

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Abbreviations

AsA:

Ascorbic acid

Asat:

Light-saturated photosynthetic rate

CBF:

C-repeat-binding factor

COR:

Cold responsive

DHA:

Dehydroascorbic acid

EL:

Electrolyte leakage

FMO:

Flavin monooxygenase

GSH:

Reduced glutathione

GSSG:

Oxidized glutathione

HT:

Hydroxylamine

ICE:

Inducer of CBF expression

Jmax:

Maximum regeneration rate of Ribulose-1, 5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

L-/D-CD:

l-/d-cysteine desulfhydrase

NPA:

1-Naphthylphthalamic acid

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by The National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFD1000800), The National Science Foundation of China (31572170), The Special Fund of Modern Agriculture Industrial Technology System of Shandong Province in China (SDAIT-05–10), and The Funds of Shandong ‘Double Tops’ Program (SYL2017YSTD06).

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology; Key Laboratory of Crop Biology and Genetic Improvement of Horticultural Crops in Huanghuai Region, College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong, China

    Xiao-Wei Zhang, Feng-Jiao Liu, Jiang Zhai, Fu-De Li, Huan-Gai Bi & Xi-Zhen Ai

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  1. Xiao-Wei Zhang
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  2. Feng-Jiao Liu
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Zhang, XW., Liu, FJ., Zhai, J. et al. Auxin acts as a downstream signaling molecule involved in hydrogen sulfide-induced chilling tolerance in cucumber. Planta 251, 69 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-020-03362-w

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