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The genetic characteristics in cytology and plant physiology of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) near isogenic lines with different freezing tolerances

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Abstract

Key message

Freezing tolerance in taft plants relied more upon an ABA-independent- than an ABA-dependent antifreeze signaling pathway.

Abstract

Two wheat (Triticum aestivum) near isogenic lines (NIL) named tafs (freezing sensitivity) and taft (freezing tolerance) were isolated in the laboratory and their various cytological and physiological characteristics under freezing conditions were studied. Proplastid, cell membrane, and mitochondrial ultrastructure were less damaged by freezing treatment in taft than tafs plants. Chlorophyll, ATP, and thylakoid membrane protein contents were significantly higher, but malondialdehyde content was significantly lower in taft than tafs plants under freezing condition. Antioxidant capacity, as indicated by reactive oxygen species accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activity, and the relative gene expression were significantly greater in taft than tafs plants. Soluble sugars and abscisic acid (ABA) contents were significantly higher in taft plants than in tafs plants under both normal and freezing conditions. The upregulated expression levels of certain freezing tolerance-related genes were greater in taft than tafs plants under freezing treatment. The addition of sodium tungstate, an ABA synthesis inhibitor, led to only partial freezing tolerance inhibition in taft plants and the down-regulated expression of some ABA-dependent genes. Thus, both ABA-dependent and ABA-independent signaling pathways are involved in the freezing tolerance of taft plants. At the same time, freezing tolerance in taft plants relied more upon an ABA-independent- than an ABA-dependent antifreeze signaling pathway.

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Abbreviations

NIL:

Near isogenic lines

MDA:

Malondialdehyde

NBT:

Nitroblue tetrazolium

DAB:

Diaminobenzidine

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

CAT:

Catalase

APX:

Ascorbate peroxidase

POD:

Guaiacol peroxidase

Glu:

Glucose

Fru:

Fructose

Suc:

Sucrose

ABA:

Abscisic acid

qRT-PCR:

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31370304) and by Funds of Shangdong “Double Tops” Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong, China

    Wenqiang Wang, Wenlong Wang, Qinxue Li & Wei Wang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, 271018, Shandong, China

    Qunqun Hao

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  1. Wenqiang Wang
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  3. Wenlong Wang
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Correspondence to Wei Wang.

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Communicated by Chun-Hai Dong.

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299_2017_2195_MOESM1_ESM.tif

Fig. S1. Thylakoid polypeptides of tafs and taft under control conditions (25°C) and freezing treatment (–20°C) (a), and relative signal densities of corresponding samples of SDS-PAGE in panels (b). M represents molecular mass marker used for SDS-PAGE. Values are mean ± SD based on three replicates. Error bars indicate standard deviations (TIFF 1795 kb)

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Wang, W., Hao, Q., Wang, W. et al. The genetic characteristics in cytology and plant physiology of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) near isogenic lines with different freezing tolerances. Plant Cell Rep 36, 1801–1814 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-017-2195-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00299-017-2195-z

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